More Education Plays

Continued learning is increasingly seen as a requirement to remain competitive in the workforce. Higher education not only lends itself to increased opportunities and job security, it also consistently translates to a higher salary. Men and women with college degrees earn 45 percent more in their lifetimes than high school graduates. A well-educated workforce fuels a successful economy and boosts income growth, but low- and middle-income families are struggling to cover the cost of post-secondary tuition.

Officials in at least three states have launched programs intending to ease the financial burden of higher education and expand opportunities for students. The aid is often offered as a reward for honorable behavior or in exchange for military or civil service.

In 2005, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm called for improving the state's Merit Scholarship and the next year the legislature passed and the governor signed the Michigan Promise Scholarship. Starting with the graduating class of 2007, this scholarship will provide up to $4,000 (enough to pay the tuition bill for an associate's degree at a Michigan community college) to every student who successfully completes two years of college. The new scholarship encourages students to pursue a post-secondary education, rewards their achievement of an associate degree or junior standing, and opens the door to completing a four-year degree.

"To compete in the new, knowledge-driven economy we must determine how we can maintain our educated workforce -- the future of this state is in their hands." -- Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Michigan

In February 2006, Missouri State Rep. Rachel Storch introduced House Bill 1643 to create the 21st Century Scholars program. Originally introduced in Indiana by then-Governor and now U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, the program guarantees state college tuition assistance to low-income students who pledge to remain drug and alcohol free and maintain a 2.0 grade point average. The program will ask students in 7th or 8th grade to make a written pledge to stay alcohol and drug free. Upon high school graduation, students must have at least a 2.0 GPA and aggressively pursue available scholarships. The 21st Century Scholars program will then cover any remaining tuition costs, as long as students have not been adjudicated for any drug or alcohol related crime or violated a school substance abuse policy.

By asking young teenagers to take responsibility for the scholarship early on, the program not only seeks to raise the college aspirations for low- and middle-income students, but also aims to lower the dropout rate by increasing students' investment in high school. In Kentucky, college tuition rates are climbing faster than inflation, putting an increasing burden on the students. Former State Treasurer Jonathan Miller unveiled a Cradle to College proposal designed to provide children born in Kentucky with a college savings account on the day of their birth. Miller, along with Republican Secretary of State Trey Grayson, formed a commission to refine the idea, identify long-term financing options, and engage other Kentucky policymakers in their efforts to make college more affordable while promoting an ethic of service and mutual responsibility. The initiative aims to fund at least a community college or technical college education for their children, but families could make payments to supplement these funds in order to afford a four-year institution. The Cradle to College program is unique in that it requires beneficiaries to perform at least one year of military or civilian service before accessing the money. Through this year of service, young people will develop a personal investment in and sense of responsibility to their communities and to the state.

Elected officials like Rachel Storch, Jonathan Miller, and Jennifer Granholm recognize that by improving the future for our students, we are improving the present for our communities.

Resources For Action

Michigan Promise Scholarship
http://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/
0,1607,7-128-38193_44522---,00.html

Missouri State Representative Rachel Storch's 21st Century Scholars Program
www.house.mo.gov/bills061/bills/HB1643.htm

Kentucky State Treasury's Cradle to College Program
www.cradletocollege.ky.gov/

Additional Reading

New Dem of the Week: Rachel Storch
www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=253760&kaid=104&subid=115

New Dem of the Week: Jonathan Miller
www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=252719&kaid=104&subid=116

Contacts

Debbie Whipple
Office of Governor Jennifer Granholm
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 335-6397
WhippleD@michigan.gov