House signs off on scholarship program for community college students
The Kentucky House overwhelmingly approved a bill Thursday to provide two years of free tuition for thousands of Kentucky community college students.
House Bill 626, sponsored by House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, creates the “Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship Program” to cover Kentucky Community and Technical College tuition not covered by federal and state grants or scholarships.
The program would be available for new Kentucky high school graduates who have applied for federal student aid, enroll in at least 12 credit hours a semester, and maintain a cumulative 2.0 grade point average.
The program, modeled after the “Tennesse Promise” initiative, would cost the state $13 million in the first year and $19.9 million in the second year of the next two-year budget cycle. It is funded in the budget bill the House approved earlier this week.
On a vote of 86-11, the House sent Stumbo’s bill to the Senate for its consideration.
Jack Brammer: (502) 227-1198, @BGPolitics
This story was originally published March 17, 2016 at 6:17 PM with the headline "House signs off on scholarship program for community college students."