Students could utilize the proposed program to attend state colleges, including the University of Washington in Seattle. Photo by Punctured Bicycle/Wikimedia

Students could utilize the proposed program to attend state colleges, including the University of Washington in Seattle. Photo by Punctured Bicycle/Wikimedia

Proposed bill would provide free college tuition to some students

The Evergreen Free College Program being called for would benefit both middle-income and low-income students.

A proposal to establish the Evergreen Free College Program would phase in funding to pay tuition for students from low and middle income families.

SB 6101 applies to state residents enrolled in a state university or community college with 45 credits and maintaining a grade point average of 2.0 or above. A student would also have to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or Washington Application for State Financial Aid each year.

“Just as important as making sure lowest and lower income children go to college, we need to make sure those in the middle class are not forgotten,” said the bill’s prime sponsor, Senator Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island.

He said the State Need Grant, a scholarship program for the lowest income bracket, has done great work in helping low income students go to college, but his bill addresses a critical gap in education funding. In order for the state to be equitable, he said Washington state needs to both fully fund the State Need Grant and provide funding for his bill.

The State Need Grant provides need-based financial aid to students in higher education who have a household income that is less than 70 percent of the state’s median family income, which is based on the number of family members. For example, under on a Washington State Department of Social and Health Services formula, a family of four making less than $5100 per month would qualify.

The proposed Evergreen Free College Program asks for $11.5 million for the biennium that starts in 2019 and a total of less than $14 million for the four-year outlook period. These costs would come out of the general fund. Ranker said it’s a smart investment in the state’s youth.

“It’s a bold step in the right direction and we better take it because the issues of income have become insurmountable,” he said.

Becca Kenna-Schenk is on the Council of Presidents at Western Washington University. She said at least 20,000 students who qualify for the State Need Grant do not receive any help from the government because of the lack of funding to the program.

“The higher education community stands united,” she said. “Fully funding the State Need Grant needs to be a top priority in the legislature.”

The free college program would have a six-step phase-in period based on education level and family income. The period phases in awards starting with one year of support in the 2019-20 academic year and ending with 12 quarters, or about four years of support, in the 2024-25 academic year.

The bill was heard in the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Monday, Feb. 5 and lawmakers voted to move it on to the Rules Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 6.

Washington State also has other programs meant to assist students with low income backgrounds, including the College Bound Scholarship that students apply for in middle school, and the Passport to College Promise Scholarship Program which assists youth emerging from foster care.

This report was produced by the Olympia bureau of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Northwest

t
Court denies use of tattoos, prior cases as evidence in Auburn cop’s trial

Jeffrey Nelson is the first officer in state to face a murder charge since the passage of I-940.

File Photo
Renton first responders ‘endangered’ at illegal street race in Kent

Both the fire chief and the firefighters union issued statements regarding the May 21 incident.

Decatur High School senior and “American Idol” contestant Iam Tongi sits at home on March 1. His father Rodney spent a bonus from his job as an electrician to buy Iam’s guitar. Alex Bruell / The Mirror
It’s Iam: Federal Way student wins ‘American Idol’

The city of Federal Way is planning a celebration to honor the Decatur High student’s victory

King County Crime Dive podcast.
‘One-person crime wave’ sentenced for ghost gun and fentanyl | King County Crime Dive podcast

Also in this episode, a 17-year-old boy is injured while “surfing” on a vehicle.

Heavy traffic northbound on 1-5 in Everett, Washington on August 31, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Go early or late to beat Memorial Day weekend traffic

AAA projects busy airports, ferries and roads over the holiday weekend this year, though still below pre-pandemic counts.

Flowers and candles are left by the door of the Stars Bar & Grill in Federal Way, where two employees were shot and killed early Sunday morning, May 21. A third man was shot and taken to a hospital. ALEX BRUELL, Sound Publishing
2 employees killed, 1 customer injured at Federal Way bar shooting

Police looking for suspect in May 21 shooting at Stars Bar & Grill at 31216 Pacific Highway S.

t
Three Auburn residents arrested for killing Kent man at Southcenter Mall

Three suspects are ages 20, 18 and 16; Chris Wesolowicz, 30, died in 2022 parking garage shooting

File Photo
Renton woman pleads guilty to embezzling over $3M from local nonprofits

Prosecutors say she used the money for gambling, expensive trips and extensive purchases.

Police lights (File photo)
Man shot near Fred Meyer gas station in Federal Way

Officers located a man with apparent gunshot wounds around 12:30 p.m. Monday, May 15.

Most Read