"For too long, discussion of access to higher education has been dominated by a belief that what is required is more public money for student aid," writes Bob Zemsky a member of the Department's Higher Education Commission. "The problem is that we have been there, doing that for a quarter of a century with at best uncertain results. Despite massive infusions of federal student aid which have clearly helped increase higher education participation rates, what has not increased is the proportion of those who start and then succeed in their studies. My conclusion? In the long term, college success rates will not improve until middle and high schools prove more adept at getting students ready for college. My preference, then, is to spend more money, not on financial aid, but on improved K-12 schooling."