This letter to the editor by Secretary Spellings appeared in the Boston Globe on January 31, 2006.

As the secretary of education, and more important, as the mother of a college freshman, I understand that one of the hurdles in obtaining a college education for many parents and students is the price tag. That's why I want to set the record straight on a recent charge that the federal government is getting ready to shortchange the student loan program by $12.7 billion ("Bush's education gap," op-ed, Jan. 25).

It's just plain wrong. In fact, the opposite is true. This administration is committed to ensuring that cost is not a barrier to higher education for any student who chooses to pursue that course.

In reviewing the student loan program, we found reforms that had to be made to benefit the students we serve. A loophole in managing the loans was putting far too many dollars in the hands of lending institutions. By closing this loophole and reforming the student loan programs, we will increase federal aid to our students and parents while reducing costs to the taxpayer.

This year the Department of Education will make or guarantee more than $60 billion in new students loans, a $4 billion increase over last year. In total for 2006, the Department of Education expects to make available more than $77 billion in federal student aid grants and loans to more than 10 million students. Our primary goal is simple: to ensure that students who need the help are getting the maximum benefit from these funds.

The bottom line is no student will have aid cut next year when these necessary reforms are enacted, and in fact more money will be made available by the federal government for student aid.

Margaret Spellings
The writer is secretary of the US Department of Education.