Fortunately, Margaret Spellings is first and foremost a feisty mom. She also happens to be the U.S. Secretary of Education. But the fact that she has a youngster in high school and another in college became clear as she spoke last week, at a meeting I attended in Cincinnati.

The occasion was her announcement of new help for students and families interested in college. In one of the most frank, plain-spoken presentations I’ve ever heard from a federal official, Spellings acknowledged:

“The current system of federal aid (for college students) is too complicated. We need to simplify the whole dog-gone thing.”

“The federal financial aide program begs for a ‘do-over’, as her younger child put it.”

“When I went through the forms with my children, I was darn frustrated.”

So what’s she doing?

First, she announced a new easier form that students and families can use on line, to learn how much in federal scholarships they may be eligible for. It’s at www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov, or 800 433-3243 (1 800 4 Fed Aid)

Second, she announced an increase in scholarship aid for low income students – from $4300 this year, to $4800 next year – with an expectation that this will grow to $5400 within 5 years. Those relatively modest increases will add $11 billion to the approximately $80 billion now being spent on federal college scholarships.

I pointed out that at one time, the country thought 6 years of free public education was enough, later increase to 8 years, and now, 12 years. Given Spellings’ accurate description of the importance of at least 2 years of post-secondary education, I asked, “Shouldn’t we be moving toward a guarantee of 14, rather than 12 years? “

Spellings said the combination of student aide and loans moves us in that direction. I’d like to see the country make such a guarantee. I’d combine that with an expectation that people receiving 2 years of free higher education should pay a slightly higher income tax for perhaps five years.

Spellings also urged the high school students present to take as many rigorous, college level courses as they can. She noted that as an incentive, students who take such courses will receive somewhat larger federal scholarships. Great idea.

Spellings was deeply moved by the success of Withrow University, an inner city Cincinnati district public school about which I’ve written earlier this year. In fact, their success (more than 90% graduation rate, with very high test scores) literally moved her to tears.

Her willingness to show how moved she was impressed me. But the most impressive thing was her willingness to acknowledge problems, describe actions to help solve problems, and her willingness to say that much more needs to be done.

That’s a great attitude for any leaders – and a terrific model for public educators. Spellings’ children are lucky she is their mom. The U.S. is fortunate she is the nation’s leading education official.