LANSING, MI. (AP) -- The Michigan Legislature is preparing to give final approval to bills aimed at starting partnerships to provide college tuition for students in high unemployment areas.
The legislation under consideration Friday is modeled somewhat after the Kalamazoo Promise, which guarantees free college tuition to graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools.
Similar versions passed both the House and Senate, and the differences are expected to be resolved.
Communities in "promise zones" with high unemployment or poverty would rely on private donations for funding. But to boost the effort, communities could use a portion of the educational property tax that usually goes to public schools to match the private donations.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm supports the program.
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