Gov. Whitmer recently delivered her State of the State Address, and one of the topics she emphasized was free community college for all of Michigan.
Whitmer has prioritized education, and last year she focused on pre-kindergarten education and making it simpler for Michigan children to access preschool.
She also noted how much they invested in assisting people to return to school through the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.
Whitmer now prioritizes what comes beyond high school. In the address, she expressed her desire to provide free community college to Michigan residents.
“In our next budget, let’s make the first 2 years of community college in Michigan tuition-free for every high school graduate,” Whitmer said in a statement.
“Michiganders who pursue an associate’s degree or skills certificate at a community college can save an average of $4,000 in tuition. This is a transformative opportunity for graduating seniors, and it will help us meet our Sixty by 30 goal of having 60% of adults complete a postsecondary degree or skills training by 2030. “We’re broadening our vision of education beyond K-12,” the governor added.
This means that every Michigan child would have access to education from pre-kindergarten to the first two years of college.
Robert McCann, executive director of the K-12 Alliance, commented on Whitmer’s new goal.
“Creating opportunities for students after graduation helps keep them on a path toward success prior to graduation,” said McCann.
“We understand that investing in our schools and students is the finest investment we can make in Michigan. We look forward to hearing more about the Governor’s proposal and collaborating with the legislature on long-term investments that will benefit our schools and kids for generations to come.”
College students also contributed their opinions to the Governor’s agenda.
“There is a significant financial strain at school. And I believe that removing that burden will encourage more individuals to attend college and earn their degrees,” said Julia Stickler, a freshman at Mott Community College.
Another MCC freshman, Ava Gordon, stated, “It feels a lot more welcoming and something that makes it more realistic for people who might not be able to have those opportunities.”