KY House approves free community college


In a bill that passed the Kentucky state House on March 17, lawmakers gave recent Kentucky high school graduates the option to receive free tuition at institutions within the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS).
 
House Bill 626 now moves to the state Senate.
 
The legislation, also known as the “Work Ready” scholarship bill, would require students to apply for available financial aid, with the state then covering outstanding tuition costs for up to six semesters. The deal extends to full-time students who maintain at least a 2.0 GPA.
 
House Speaker Greg Stumbo, a Prestonsburg Democrat and the bill’s sponsor, said the program would cost about $20M per year and could serve up to 18,000 students in its first year.
 
“It’s a lot of money, but think of the bang you get for the dollar,” Stumbo said.
 
Read the full Courier-Journal story here.

 
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