Article Summary –
The Michigan Senate passed Senate Bills 382 and 383, aimed at making higher education and career training more accessible by codifying the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship into state law. These scholarships provide financial assistance to high school graduates, addressing the declining college enrollment rates and the increasing demand for degreed workers in Michigan. Business leaders support the legislation, which includes performance measures to ensure transparency and accountability, contributing to Michigan’s goal of having 60% of adults with a college degree or skills certificate by 2030.
The Michigan Senate passed bills on Sept. 25 to enhance state workforce by making college and career training more accessible for high school graduates.
Senate Bills 382 and 383 aim to meet rising demand for degreed workers by codifying two tuition assistance programs: Michigan Achievement Scholarship and Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship. These bills now head to Michigan House Appropriations Committee.
The Michigan Achievement Scholarship offers free community college tuition and up to $5,500 annually for in-state university study. The Skills Scholarship provides $2,000 annually for two-year career training programs.
Sen. Sarah Anthony, sponsor and Appropriations Committee chair, emphasized that making the program law secures the “future for many high school students” to gain skills needed for Michigan’s high-demand jobs.
Michigan trails in education attainment. Only 53.4% of seniors enrolled in college after the 2023-2024 school year, down over 12% from a decade ago.
Demand for employees with post-secondary degrees is expected to rise, with 35 of the top 50 jobs requiring a four-year degree, including data scientists and physician assistants.
In a letter, business leaders expressed the need for qualified employees to support growth.
Business groups supported the bills and additional performance measures, including an online dashboard with program metrics like participation and completion rates.
The Michigan Achievement Scholarship aims for the “Sixty by 30” goal, ensuring 60% of adults have a degree or skills certificate by 2030. Launched in 2019, this effort has raised attainment rates from 45% to nearly 52%.
More than 60,000 students benefited from reduced tuition, saving families $252 million, according to state data.
The scholarship receives $300 million annually from the state budget. Gov. Whitmer proposed an additional $50 million in her executive budget for the next fiscal year. The Senate Fiscal Agency expects program costs to rise until 2027, stabilizing at $600 million annually.
Szurpicki stated the necessity for ongoing investment in college affordability, affirming that codifying scholarships would secure Michigan’s educational and workforce goals.
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