During the past weekend, Texas families saved millions of dollars because of the sales tax holiday as they prepared to send their kids back to school. Whether seeing children off to kindergarten or college, the cost of higher education is daunting to many.

Tuition is on the rise, and unfortunately for today's coeds and their families, finding the money to cover these costs is becoming increasingly difficult. In the last year, many lenders have gotten out of the student loan business.

In the current economy, families are facing other financial hardships that may seem to widen the gap between young Texans and the college dream. In order to make these dreams a reality, I encourage all families considering these challenges to educate themselves about state resources that are available to be tapped.

The newest of these is the Texas Tuition Promise Fund, which goes into effect this September. Under this option, Texans can choose from many different prepaid plans while hedging against rising tuition costs.

These prepaid plans are designed for use at every type of higher education institution. To receive more information about this new addition to our state's college funding options, visit the Web site and fill out the request form.