Low-income kids zones could receive college tuition through private, public funds

College-bound kids living in designated low-income zones, called Promise Zones, which the state still has to choose, may be getting a boost in the coming months. The program, modeled after a Kalamazoo program, will pay part to nearly all of the college tuition for kids living in these areas. Excerpt: The so-called Promise Zones are modeled after a free tuition program in Kalamazoo, where an anonymous benefactor is paying full tuition for all Kalamazoo Public Schools graduates who go on to a state university or community college. The Kalamazoo program has been credited with boosting graduation rates and attracting new families to the city. The state-sponsored plan won’t be as generous, but it will help students who otherwise could not afford college. “In Michigan, we know the link between higher education and the economy is so important,” said Granholm. All students who live in a qualified zone, whether attending public or private school, could get tuition help. Promise Zones are required to use private funds to cover at least two years of community college for graduating students. Read the entire article here.