Bill Passes Allowing All G.E.D Holders In This State To Have FREE Community College

[KamaAina]

http://bipartisanreport.com/2016/03/18/bill-passes-allowing-all-g-e-d-holders-in-this-state-to-have-free-community-college/

A new bill passed under the Kentucky House of Representatives on Thursday just made it a lot easier for students to go to college.

The bill allows any student who graduates in Kentucky with their GED to go to community college free of charge.

House Bill 626 requires students to apply for financial aid, having the state pay the difference between that and their tuition for a maximum of two years. Students are required to take 12 credit hours each semester and maintain a GPA of 2.0.

Referred to as the “Work Ready” scholarship bill, it would cover up to six semesters in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Well, dang!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

7. just the house

Will it make it past the senate and the Gov?

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Hope so!!

[onecaliberal]

2. Good stuff

[Gidney N Cloyd]

3. Is it free for students who graduated high school?

[KamaAina]

4. I was wondering the same thing.

If not, could kids drop out midway through their senior year, then get a G.E.D.?

[Gidney N Cloyd]

5. Here's another article that clarifies things:

The Kentucky House Just Approved Free Community College Tuition Plan
by Terry Turner - Mar 21, 2016
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/kentucky-house-approves-law-giving-free-community-college-tuition/

Kentucky lawmakers overwhelmingly voted for a plan that would guarantee free community college or vocational training to high school graduates in the state.

More than 40 Republicans joined the chamber’s Democratic majority in passing the Work Ready Scholarship Bill.

Anyone who graduates high school, home school, or receives their GED high school equivalency certificate would be able to have their tuition covered by the state while they attend up to six semesters, as long as they maintain a 2.0 grade point average.

The plan is expected to benefit 15,000 to 18,000 Kentucky students immediately at a cost of $20 million a year.

The Work Ready bill moves on to the Kentucky senate for a vote there and, if passed, to the governor’s desk.

Under the plan, students would still have to apply for financial aid — such as grants and scholarships — but if that doesn’t cover all the costs, the bill will require the state to make up the difference.

Students would have to take at least 12 credit hours per semester and meet the minimum standard for grades to qualify for the program.

[Hortensis]

6. Well, absolutely fantastic--so far. I started college through

relatively free classes. It was a magnificent enabler. All you had to do was be willing to show up to class and go home and study. No heroic suffering and sacrifice knocking out all but the strongest-minded -- and those free of obligations or misfortune -- needed. And certainly no years of debt.

Community college tuition. House Bill 626 would provide Kentucky high school graduates with two years’ worth of paid tuition at a state community college under a bill that passed the state House by an 86-11 vote on Thursday. The bill would create the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship Program to cover Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) tuition for recent Kentucky high school grads or GED recipients under the age of 19 who complete applications for financial aid, enroll in at least 12 credit hours a semester, and maintain a cumulative 2.0 grade point average. The bill has been sent to the Senate.

Why under 19? Will the Senate likely pass it? Could the governor who took down the admirable Knect system veto it? Is business behind this? I didn't find out.

[FlatBaroque]

8. As above, so below.

[Warren Stupidity]

10. But wadif a bazillionaire's kid haz a ged?

[ebayfool]

14. Good one ...

[angstlessk]

11. That is good news no matter what!

Is this governor a Democrat or a Republican (i respected the repub name in case)

[KamaAina]

12. Dear FSM, I forgot. He is a teabagger of the first order.

So this very likely gets vetoed if it gets to him (it passed the House).

[angstlessk]

13. There is always hope...like maybe

the eagle eats the nose off of trump? Or at least messes up his hair...what is left of it!

[Duval]

15. That is amazing! And wonderful!

Oh, it hasn't passed yet. Yes, we can hope!!

[Jitter65]

16. Free Community College is Obama/Clinton position. nt

[jaxind]

17. In Kentucky??!

In Kentucky??! Really!!?

[valerief]

18. So this bill encourages kids to drop out of high school, so that

they can later get their GED and get free college.

Kind of a funny way to do it.

On edit:
Oh, I see in post 5 high school graduates are included. Good!

Anyone who graduates high school, home school, or receives their GED high school equivalency certificate would be able to have their tuition covered by the state while they attend up to six semesters, as long as they maintain a 2.0 grade point average.

[KamaAina]

20. See post 5 upthread.

[valerief]

21. Ha! Thanks. I was adding my update to my post when you responded. nt

[Sissyk]

19. This is probably very similar

To what Tennessee passed last year. Here is the information about Tn. promise.

http://tennesseepromise.gov/about.shtml

[Kittycat]

22. Red State Republican Socialists

Meanwhile, in Illinois, we still don't have a state budget and EIU just laid off 177 staff members because they can't fund the colleges and universities.

http://eiupresident.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/y/60BF084DED7AB368/F09BE0C9D397AF7174AF8F7A76570606