In the 2022 fiscal year, Massachusetts implemented a 4% tax on residents earning $1 million or more each year. This tax revenue was allocated to provide free school lunches for all public school students.
The state is now proposing funding for MassEducate, a state-sponsored program that will cover community college tuition and fees, with the cost paid by taxes on millionaires. The budget is currently awaiting approval from the state House of Representatives before the fiscal year begins in July.
If approved, MassEducate will invest $75.5 million in state funds to cover tuition and fees for community college students. President Joe Biden has also included a plan for free community college education in his fiscal 2025 budget, with 20 states already offering tuition-free community college programs.
State Senator Michael J. Rodrigues believes that the community college program will strengthen the state’s workforce and future generations by providing necessary opportunities to individuals who may not have been able to afford it otherwise. He stated that tuition-free community college will help people succeed despite financial challenges.
In addition to covering tuition and fees, the state’s community college program offers assistance to low-income students and provides stipends of up to $1,200 for books, supplies, and other expenses for students who earn 125% or less of the state’s median income. It also includes a $10 million “student persistence fund” aimed at helping community college students facing significant financial difficulties that could hinder their studies.
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