Doug Pratt, spokesman for the Michigan Education Association, the largest teachers union in the state, told the Free Press that giving money to private school students while public schools are facing cuts "doesn't make sense." But State Sen. Judy Emmons, the bill's primary sponsor, countered: "They are students in the state of Michigan. They live here. I would hazard to guess that their families pay taxes in Michigan."
The legislation eliminates a current state policy that requires private school students to enroll for at least one course in a public school to be eligible for dual enrollment tuition support. It would also lower the age of eligibility, allowing freshmen and sophomores to participate in dual enrollment, according to the Free Press.
Community colleges would be limited to charging students their in-district tuition rate, regardless of whether the student lived inside or outside of the district. Students would be capped at taking 10 college courses during their high school years, the newspaper reports.
The bill will first go to the State Senate for consideration.
