New Law Aids Michigan Students with Expenses

Alexsandra Aguilar-Delgado always knew she wanted to go to college. As a student at City High Middle School in Grand Rapids
New law helps disadvantaged Michigan students with out-of-pocket expenses

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Summary

The Promise Zone scholarship program in Michigan, initially focused on covering tuition, has been expanded to include additional costs such as housing, transportation, and child care, benefiting students from economically disadvantaged communities. This update, signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, aims to alleviate financial burdens that could prevent students from continuing their education and increase the number of scholarship recipients who complete their programs and enter the workforce. The program’s flexibility and local community involvement are highlighted as key factors in its success, as exemplified by the Grand Rapids and Pontiac Promise Zones adapting their plans to support students comprehensively.


Alexsandra Aguilar-Delgado always aimed for college. At City High Middle School in Grand Rapids, her counselor introduced her to the Promise Zone scholarship program.

Without the Promise Zone scholarship, she would have struggled to find scholarships and grants for Grand Rapids Community College. She began studying plastics engineering as a freshman this fall.

“I didn’t have to worry about signing up for anything,” said Aguilar-Delgado, 18. “I was already at ease.”

However, a few months into the school year, she faced extra costs for parking and food on campus.

These out-of-pocket expenses could hinder some students from continuing their education. To address this, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently signed legislation updating the 2009 Michigan Promise Zone Authority Act. Now, the scholarship can cover housing, transportation, and child care, not just tuition.

Michigan Promise Zone scholarships are awarded to students in one of 13 economically disadvantaged communities with higher-than-average poverty rates and who graduate from a high school in that community.

Unlike traditional scholarships based on academic merit or financial need, Promise Zone scholarships offer broader support.

Ashlee Mishler, executive director of the Grand Rapids Promise Zone, emphasized its significance in offering college opportunities to all local students. The new law adapts the scholarship to various challenges students might face.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity this provides the Grand Rapids Promise Zone to support students in as many ways as possible,” Mishler said.

In 2005, Kalamazoo pioneered the first “place-based” scholarship when donors pledged to cover tuition for any Kalamazoo Public School student attending a Michigan college or university.

In 2009, then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed the Michigan Promise Zone Authority Act, allowing communities to create 11-member boards to fund at least an associate’s degree using state education tax. Initially, the law permitted up to 10 Promise Zones, later increased to 15 in 2017. Today, Michigan has 13 Promise Zones.

The scholarship fills gaps in tuition, course fees, and books not covered by federal aid or other awards, with amounts varying based on needs. Each Zone has specific guidelines on eligible postsecondary institutions. For instance, the Grand Rapids Promise Zone scholarship applies only to Grand Rapids Community College, while the Pontiac Promise Zone scholarship covers any state-accredited public institution.

Some Pontiac students attend schools as far as Michigan Technological University in the Upper Peninsula, said Coco Moulder, executive director of the Pontiac Promise Zone. She stressed that covering living expenses is crucial for student success.

“Tuition is not the most expensive part of college; that’s actually room and board,” Moulder said. “These young people now have the ability to have us help them so they are not couch surfing and having to quit because they don’t have the money for room and board.”

Since the bill signing in September, Promise Zone boards have been working to update their scholarship plans to include additional expenses.

Justin Sheehan, executive director of the Lansing Promise Zone, aims to implement the changes within the next year.

“We really look forward to doing the math, crunching the numbers, and beginning to support in any way we can,” Sheehan said.

Lansing’s Promise Zone was one of the first established under the 2009 law. Sheehan estimates over 2,000 students have attended postsecondary programs through the Lansing Promise Zone, with more than 800 graduates.

“We got scholars running restaurants and businesses. We got scholars who have completed law school and are now running organizations,” Sheehan said.

Whitmer also signed another bill requiring Promise Zone board members to live within or near the Promise Zone and allowing funds for activities that improve student success. This aims to boost the number of graduates who join the workforce by ensuring they have the necessary support.

For first-generation college student Aguilar-Delgado, receiving academic help will enable her to finish her education and give back to her parents.

“They’ve done so much for me that I feel like I should also give back in any way that I can. And my way right now is by working hard in my academics,” Aguilar-Delgado said.


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