Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is planning to urge lawmakers to pass legislation that would provide free community college tuition for all high school graduates.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer plans to urge state lawmakers to pass legislation that would provide free community college tuition for all high school graduates during her sixth State of the State speech on Wednesday.

Whitmer also prioritized community college access in her annual address last year. State lawmakers responded by temporarily lowering the minimum age for free tuition from 25 to 21 years old. The Democratic governor now wants to expand the program by removing all age requirements for free community college, according to details of her plan provided to The Associated Press by Whitmer’s office.

Whitmer’s administration created the Michigan Reconnect program in 2021, aiming to increase the percentage of the state’s workforce with a postsecondary degree or training from 50.5% to 60% by 2030. It made Michigan residents 25 years and older eligible for free community college tuition.

    • Twentytwodividedby7@lemmy.world
      201·
      10 months ago

      You generally have to graduate high school or complete the GED to be eligible for enrollment in higher education. This has nothing to do with ability, it’s just the minimum for entry

    • HappycamperNZ@lemmy.world
      132·
      10 months ago

      I would assume those who could actually reasonably pass.

      Saying that, over here you automatically get uni entrance when you hit 20 so those who grew after high-school aren’t disadvantaged. Have somethings similar would be good.

      • xor@infosec.pub
        223·
        10 months ago

        being a high school graduate says zero about intelligence, and just shows you can blindly follow rules

        • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
          252·
          10 months ago

          If you think college doesn’t also require you to follow blind rules, I’ve got bad news for you. A good chunk of life is the requirement to follow stupid rules. In that way school is a pretty good preparation for life after school.

          • xor@infosec.pub
            216·
            10 months ago

            if you think college is like high school, then you didn’t go to college…
            you see no difference between picking your own classes and being programmed to work in a factory?

            • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
              101·
              10 months ago

              if you think college is like high school, then you didn’t go to college…

              Thats a strawman. I never said college is like high school, I said going to college does not mean you avoid having to follow rules, even silly or stupid ones.

              you see no difference between picking your own classes and being programmed to work in a factory?

              You may not be aware, but in college while you do get to pick a portion of your own classes, for your chosen program of study there are certain required classes that are required or even prerequisite classes you have to take to take the class you want to pick. This is a good example of rules you have to follow.

        • OldWoodFrame@lemm.ee
          71·
          10 months ago

          It says you’re smart enough and driven enough to do literally the bare minimum for your own education, and sure, you follow the rules enough to pass.

          But spoilers, that’s what the community colleges want too. Smart enough, driven enough, following instructions enough to pass.

          And spoilers again, that’s what employers want too.

            • GooseFinger@lemmy.world
              51·
              10 months ago

              The tiny subset of people who dropped from high school, never got their GED, and want to take community college seriously could just… get their GED first? Compared to the time and cost of completing a 2 year degree, obtaining a GED is very small barrier to entry.

              You’re not articulating very well what your issue is.

                • GooseFinger@lemmy.world
                  41·
                  10 months ago

                  GEDs are high school equivalency credentials. GED test scores are treated the same as high school credits by practically all institutions.

                  I’m not sure why this bill would exclude GED holders since there’s no practical reason to, so I’d assume they are included until we know for sure.

    • jubejube@lemmus.orgEnglish
      123·
      10 months ago

      My guess is it has to do with effective use of resources. The tuition is free to the student but not the taxpayer. Teachers and administrators don’t work for free. If you can’t get through state funded education up to high school then the chances probably aren’t great for college. Those seeking a second chance could always complete a ged and get the benefit, hopefully.

      • xor@infosec.pub
        122·
        10 months ago

        If you can’t get through state funded education up to high school then the chances probably aren’t great for college

        not true at all, the types of people that don’t do well in high school are usually the smartest ones

        • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
          171·
          10 months ago

          not true at all, the types of people that don’t do well in high school are usually the smartest ones

          There’s a difference in “not doing well” and “not graduating”. Also there are lots of different ways you could define the “smartest ones”, but ability to earn an income is a at least one indicator of success. Using that metric the data doesn’t support your assertion:

          source

            • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
              10·
              10 months ago

              you do realize your graph just supports my point, right? a high school dropout will earn a lot more money if they just get an associates degree.

              You think a community college will accept you in their programs without the high school level education?

              otherwise, im not a capitalist and think “ability to earn money” is the worst possible metric for judging someone…

              Feel free to present your own data to back up your point. So far you’ve provided none.

              • 🖖USS-Ethernet@startrek.websiteEnglish
                2·
                10 months ago

                No, they didn’t (said in another comment), but they somehow went to college without a diploma or equivalent (not sure how). They are also a self described genius and smartest person ever.

        • jubejube@lemmus.orgEnglish
          63·
          10 months ago

          I can see where you are coming from and do not disagree. However these decisions have to be made in aggregate and proportionally, the “geniuses” that failed or dropped out of highchool, are most likely a small minority compared to the overall population.

        • Twentytwodividedby7@lemmy.world
          3·
          10 months ago

          There is no empirical data to support that at all. If you have some we’d love to see it.

          While it is not unheard of for someone to do poorly in school and still be smart, education is a clear predictive variable for future success. Period.

          Also too, studies have shown that a direct outcome of improving starting wages and reducing unemployment is a reduction in violent crime. Also better median income in the state also results in better taxes for the state.

          This is by no means a giveaway. This is an investment in the state that pays many dividends. By the way Tennessee did this several years ago. It’s a net benefit for society.