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.

  • 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.