By Brian Livingston / blivingston@themeridianstar.com
The Meridian Star
MERIDIAN —
If State Treasurer Tate Reeves was concerned whether or not the fifth grade students at Poplar Springs Elementary School were listening to him, then he was convinced they were judging by the questions the youngsters were peppering him with after he spoke Wednesday morning.
"Boy these are very good questions," said Reeves as he took a minute to collect himself from the barrage. "You people are really testing me but I like that. It shows you are interested in this issue."
The issue is the ever growing cost of tuition and expenses associated with obtaining a college degree. Reeves told the fifth graders that by the time they were college age, the costs would have probably doubled from the present day number.
Reeves stopped by the elementary school to encourage the children to talk to their parents about enrolling in college tuition savings programs such as those currently being presented by Reeves' office. Wednesday was also the kickoff of the Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Program (MPACT). From Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, families in Mississippi can lock in today's tuition rates for tomorrow's college students.
"You cannot start soon enough," said Reeves. "These programs are in place so the burden on the families is not overwhelming when it is time to consider a college education."
Reeves said the gap between those families who can afford to send their children to college and those who can't is growing day by day. He said about 30,000 state families are involved in one of the two programs. Reeves said MPACT can be used for private or public colleges or even for out of state institutions.
The MACS savings plan offers the choice of three investment options that allow a family to begin to save not only for tuition, but other qualified expenses such as certain room and board costs, and required books and supplies, said Reeves.
