Kentucky high school students offered suggestions to improve higher education last week in Frankfort. Members of the Prichard Committee’s Student Voice group testified before a House Budget Review Committee.
One of those speaking was Lilly Gardner, who lived in Salyersville until a move to Lexington in middle school. She admits putting money aside for higher education could help alleviate student loan headaches. But Gardner, a high school sophomore, says that’s not always possible. “If people have the opportunity to save, that is really, really wonderful, but obviously we are living in a state where many families are living paycheck to paycheck. They don’t feel like that have that opportunity or that flexibility to save for college,” said Gardner.
In addition to involving students more in the higher ed discussions, Gardner said lowering the school counselor to student ratio would help. She says currently, on average, there are more than 400 students to one counselor. Gardner said the recommended ratio is 250 to one.
Owensboro Representative Jimmy Glenn said more resources in education for secondary and elementary education create benefits beyond the academic realm. “Everybody is short of revenue. We want to help the students because that’s our future. We’re trying to help as many students graduate as possible. What it does is it increasing revenue in the state. It makes their lives better. It increases their health because anyone who gets an education has a healthier life,” explained Glenn
Gardner says she and her Student Voice partners have seen vocational-technical programs at the high school level. Gardner believes that can help students land better-paying jobs and helps ensure that future generations have the ability to save to pay for higher education.
