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.

  • jubejubeEnglish
    133·
    11 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.

      • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
        191·
        11 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
            12·
            11 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.

              • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
                61·
                11 months ago

                yes, they already did. to your second point: fuck no

                I’m beginning to get a picture of the problems you may have had to arrive where you are.

                I hope your day get better.

                  • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
                    61·
                    11 months ago

                    your data is “people with more degrees earn more money”

                    No, I said one possible measure, and asked you to provide a measure you prefer. You provided no measure of your own.

                    and your conclusion is “people with more money are better people”

                    And I said nothing of the sort. Again, you’re building a strawman.

                    i’ll bring sources and have reasonable discourse with reasonable people…

                    Yeah, I’m doubting that.

                    and you are not one of them.

                    I’m not sure are the best person to judge that. Most of the things you say that make paint me as unreasonable are things you said, not my own words. You’re clearly having difficulty with this conversation, and my day is not made better by yours getting worse. Whatever it is in life that is denying you peace, I hope you overcome it.

                    I see nothing productive for either of us continuing this. I won’t be replying to you anymore.

            • 🖖USS-Ethernet@startrek.websiteEnglish
              2·
              11 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.

      • jubejubeEnglish
        63·
        11 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·
        11 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.