INNOVATORS

States have a pivotal role to play in guaranteeing their workforce and businesses have the skills to compete. A number of states are already leading the way.

Georgia's Hope
The Georgia Hope Grant provides two years of free education and training at public two-year colleges and technical schools to all Georgia residents. An additional merit-based College Scholarship pays for costs of attending a public four-year college for students with a B average or better. Polling in Georgia shows that 80% of the public has a positive overall impression of Hope, with highest favorability of higher income individuals. A subsequent poll comparing Hope and Georgia’s Pre-K program found that Hope was more popular than PreK.

Washington's Opportunity

In 2006, the Washington legislature approved $4 million for an Opportunity Grant Program as a pilot for universal access to two years of postsecondary education and training to lay the groundwork for providing two years of post-secondary education or job training to every state resident by 2012. In 2007, the state legislature expanded the program to all Washington residents below 200% of the federal poverty line and funded it at $23 million.

Michigan's Promise

The Michigan Promise, established in 2006, guarantees every new high school graduate a $4,000 scholarship for any in-state two- or four-year college or skills training program that leads to a credential. Recognizing the need to guarantee skills for the current workforce as well, Governor Granholm proposed the “No Worker Left Behind” program which would pay community college tuition for anyone in the state to pursue an associate’s degree or to attend a technical training program in a high-demand occupation, emerging industry, or entrepreneurship program.