LANSING ? Michigan college students would get help with their tuition bills if a parent is laid off, and those parents would get state tax credits for their child’s college savings plan under an educational plan announced Monday by House Republicans.
Rep. Neal Nitz (R-Baroda), along with Republican candidates Ken Horn and Don Vickers, unveiled the College Family’s Bill of Rights initiative saying that Michigan families are struggling due to the financial and bureaucratic roadblocks to higher education.
“My local community colleges have worked hard to implement many of these initiatives and I will continue working with them and state universities to expand these opportunities so students can continue to work toward their career development,” Nitz said.
Under the proposal, parents would also be able to directly deposit their income tax refunds into pre-paid college saving programs.
Republicans would also like to see more advanced placement courses available, as well as offering dual enrollment and baccalaureate programs, to get students into college earlier. The model “dual degree” program would allow students to receive their high school diploma in concurrence with an associate’s degree.
All public community colleges and universities would also be required to implement a master transfer agreement under the proposal, which would streamline the credit transfer process.
“We must fight for the students and parents struggling to get access to the quality education they need without breaking their family budget,” Vickers said.
House Democrats have introduced a measure that would allow college graduates who take their first job at a Michigan high-tech company, and who stay in state for five years, to receive a check from the state covering the interest of their student loan.
This story was provided by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on Gongwer.Com
