The state's higher education commissioner swears he doesn't want to squeeze out low-income students participating in TEXAS Grant, a program that focuses on helping families with annual incomes of $40,000 or less afford college for their children.

But proposals in a new higher education plan circulating in Austin would make you think otherwise. Consultants to Commissioner Raymund Paredes and his Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board colleagues recommend that legislators broaden the TEXAS Grant program to serve more families with incomes closer to $60,000.

We have no problem helping those families get financial aid. In fact, we recently suggested that legislators pick up on the House Democratic proposal aimed precisely at middle-class Texans.

But helping this group shouldn't come at the expense of lower-income families – especially not in a state whose demographics show a large bulge of students from poor households.

As Mr. Paredes knows, if the state doesn't graduate more disadvantaged students from college, Texas will lack the educated workforce that states such as California are working day and night to produce. (California and New York offer college grants to many more low-income students.)

The consultants also want to create new academic standards for TEXAS Grant. We are open to some higher standards, but such changes must be balanced against maintaining college access for all Texans.

If the standards idea is a plot to knock down the number of students who qualify for TEXAS Grant – so the state can reduce its investment – forget it. If not, the new standards need to be phased in over time so families can adjust.

Mr. Paredes and his colleagues will make their full recommendations about the consultants' report this fall. We hope they pay special attention to making college accessible for disadvantaged Texans.