Section A·Page 22
Monday, August 21, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
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Treasurer promotes college savings
Publicity helps people understand new account plans
The Associated Press
TOPEKA — State Treasurer Tim Shallenburger is busy traveling the state to讨 a plan to help people save money for college costs.
The plan, which began July 1, already has around $4 million in 1,500 accounts, which Shallenburger said showed the power of word-of-mouth about a good idea.
"We are right on track, and we
have done all that without newspaper ads or direct mail," he said. "We have done it all without any real advertising."
Shallenburger said the goal of his office, which administers the Learning Quest program, is to have 14,000 accounts established in its first year. He said that college is the second-biggest thing people save for after retirement.
"If we can get people to save for college who otherwise wouldn't do it, you get more people in college who otherwise wouldn't go," Shallenburger said. "And that is nothing but positive for the state."
The treasurer said he and his staff had traversed the state visiting about 15 newspapers to explain the program to editors. He said more
visits with newspapers and civic clubs were planned.
"The plan is up and running, and we are going out now explaining it," he said. "You can't market this stuff without getting some ink in the paper. By and large, we are happy that the editors feel it is a good thing to do."
American Century Investments of Kansas City, Mo., handles the investment of money and manages the program under a seven-year contract with the treasurer's office. Individuals will have an option of conservative, moderate or aggressive investment tracks.
Under the program, a person can put as little as $25 a month into an account for a child's college education. People also can start an
account with a lump-sum payment of $500.
The law allows up to $127,000 in accounts for a single child, though that amount likely will grow because it's tied to the cost of a four-year college education in the Midwest.
In addition, separate accounts can be started by other relatives or even family friends on behalf of the child.
Taxes on the earnings from the accounts are deferred until the money is used. Kansans also receive state income tax deductions
up to $2,000 for individuals and $4,000 for married couples -- for the amount of money they put into each account.
Edited by Kimberly Thompson
Kansas outscores national average on ACT
The Associated Press
TOPEKA — Kansas students scored higher on average than their national counterparts on the latest ACT tests, an annual report by the testing organization said.
The report, released Thursday, said the average composite score in Kansas was 21.6, compared to the national average of 21. The highest possible score is 36 on the tests, formerly known as the American College Testing assessments.
Education Commissioner Andy Tompkins said that he was pleased with the ACT results but added that the state still needs to address differences in test scores along ethnic and socioeconomic lines.
"I love the good news,but we've got to still do better. We have kids who aren't learning well."
"I love the good news, but we've got to still do better," he said. "We
Andy Tompkins Kansas Education Commissioner
have kids who aren't learning well. Over time, I sure wish we could reduce those gaps."
With the 21.6 average, Kansas students ranked first among five states where at least 75 percent of the students took the college entrance exam.
Education officials say as more
students take the tests, a state's average composite score typically drops. In Kansas, 77.5 percent of graduating seniors took the tests, up 3.5 percent from 1999.
Nationality, 38 percent of seniors graduating this year took the tests.
graduating this year took the tests. The average composite score for Kansas students increased 0.1 in the past year, while the national average held steady.
Harold Voth, State Board of Education chairman,'said he was particularly pleased that Kansas scores improved while more students took the tests.
"That's great news," said Voth, of Haven.
Kathy Toelkes, representative for the Department of Education, pointed out that the number of
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Kansas students taking the ACT who had completed college preparatory course work increased from 54 percent to 57 percent in the past year.
She also said the average ACT score in Kansas had exceeded the national average the past several years.
"Overall, it's some encouraging news," Toolkes said.
The ACT, which measures skills in English, math, reading and science, is one of two major entrance examinations. Results from the other one, the SAT, are expected to be released later this month.
— Edited by Clay McCuistion
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