MichiganRadio

Making a New 'Promise' to Michigan School Children ANN ARBOR (Michigan Radio) -


Governor Granholm has signed legislation to create 'Promise Zones.'

Public school students living inside the zones will be eligible for free college educations.

The ' Promise Zones' are based on the 'Kalamazoo Promise.' The privately funded 'Kalamazoo Promise'' started 3 years ago. The program gives Kalamazoo public school students money for college based on how long they have lived in the school district. The 'Promise Zone' program will be partially funded with tax dollars.

Pontiac State Representative Tim Melton sponsored the legislation. He expects the 'Promise Zone' program will attract students and businesses to poor school districts. "This isn't just educational. We're really looking at this as an economic development tool," says Melton.

Under the new law, only ten school districts with a high number of students living below the poverty line are eligible to apply to be part of the 'Promise Zone' program. © Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio