RALEIGH, N.C. -- A legislative committee wants to give more students at North Carolina's community colleges access to federal school loans.
A panel examining student financial aid recommended on Tuesday that the General Assembly require all 58 campuses to participate in the federal government's Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. The panel's report says 37 currently don't.
Committee co-chairman Rep. Ray Rapp of Madison County says some community colleges are worried too many students will default on the loans and could lead to federal sanctions. Rapp said the chances for sanctions are very low.
The panel also recommended the full General Assembly raise the amount of money given to college students who prepare to become teachers. The loan is paid off if they work in the public schools.
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