Free Tuition Plan Would Start Small, Bredesen saysGeneral Assembly to Consider the 19-19-19 Program This Session
By Angie Herrington, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn.
Jan. 12–Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen said he doubts there is enough money this year to launch universally his proposed program to reward some high school students with free tuition to community college.
The governor said that means he either can choose to pilot the program at a handful of community colleges, or he can offer the program statewide to a limited number of students.
“My inclination is I like to do things which are broadly accessible… but I’ve got to work through that still,” Gov. Bredesen said this week during a meeting with the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
The Tennessee Board of Regents has developed the proposal for the Governor’s 19-19-19 program, which the state General Assembly will consider this session.
To be eligible, a student must have an overall score of 19 on the ACT college entrance exam and a 19 in the math and English sections. ACT scores range from 1 to 36. The program initially could reward some 4,700 students with free tuition, according to the Board of Regents’ proposal.
Gov. Bredesen said the 19-19-19 program could be expanded after its first year, much like his pre-k program. In 2005, the governor allocated $25 million in Tennessee Lottery funds to create 300 pre-k classes through a competitive grant process.
In June, Gov. Bredesen signed a state budget that added $20 million in general funds to expand the pre-k program.
Carl Hite, president of Cleveland State Community College, said he thinks the 19-19-19 program would give students the incentive to graduate from high school and pursue college.
“I think (the 19-19-19 requirement ) is a reasonable score, but students will have to work at it,” he said.
Gov. Bredesen said community colleges will play a strong role in increasing the state’s number of college graduates.
Tennessee ranks 44th in the nation in the number of residents who have four-year degrees.
“I think they’re a great place to go for students just going off to college,” Gov. Bredesen said of community colleges. “For more marginal students, academically, they’re an awful good place to get your feet on the ground and a perfectly good place to move on to a four-year college.”
E-mail Angie Herrington at aherrington@timesfreepress.com FAST FACTS The Governor’s 19-19-19 program would be funded by the Tennessee Lottery.
The first year of the program would cost about $3.2 million.
Source: Tennessee Board of Regents program proposal
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