Free-college programs multiply

As cities try to emulate Kalamazoo’s success with its free college tuition program, Strive is working to put together its own program locally.

Financing for such a program is the main obstacle to Strive’s effort.

Kalamazoo’s program, called Kalamazoo Promise, began in 2005 with a gift from anonymous donors that guaranteed graduates of the city’s public school system free tuition to any college or university in the state of Michigan.

About a dozen cities, including Pittsburgh and Denver, have already launched similar programs, and, recently, officials from 82 cities visited Kalamazoo to discuss how to adapt the concept.

Read the full article here.