Latest news with #MichiganDepartmentofLifelongEducation
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New sweepstakes to encourage Michigan students to fill out FAFSA
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A new state-funded sweepstakes has been launched to encourage Michigan students to complete the — the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. GRPS 'encouraged' by education dollars in Whitmer's budget proposal Alongside the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential and the Michigan College Access Network, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer introduced the sweepstakes on Wednesday. In all, the sweepstakes will give away $900,000 — 10 $50,000 prizes and 40 $10,000 prizes. The Federal Student Aid office distributes approximately $120 billion annually to help students from lower-income homes afford college. Beverly Walker-Griffea, the executive director of , says the sweepstakes will encourage more students to take advantage of a program that removes obstacles to so many potential paths of success. Grand Rapids 'walk-in' aims to show support for public education 'It's not only the $50,000 (prizes), but it makes you eligible for career training of up to $4,000 with the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. It means that you can attend your local community college tuition free,' Walker-Griffea said during a news conference. Whitmer says this is another step in her administration's commitment to lowering the cost and expanding access to higher education. She also launched the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and the Michigan Reconnect program, which provides tuition assistance to Michiganders 21 and up to go back to school to earn skill certificates or an associate's degree. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Michigan tuition sweepstakes gives 10 students chance to win $50,000 for completing FAFSA
Michigan officials launched a "Ticket to Tuition" giveaway April 16 that will give students pursuing higher education the chance to win up to $50,000 to cover education expenses by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The form unlocks both federal and state support for college-bound students, as well as those headed to career schools. The Michigan sweepstakes will give ten students the chance to win $50,000 and 40 students a chance at $10,000. The cash prize will be held in a Michigan Education Savings Program account for winning students to use to pay for a range of education expenses, including tuition, textbooks and room and board. "Filling out the FAFSA makes you eligible for tens of thousands of dollars of in-state and federal scholarships, and with today's sweepstakes, you can earn some extra money, too," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said during a launch event at Eastern High School in Lansing. The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential partnered with the Michigan College Access Network — a nonprofit that aims to increase the number of Michigan students that complete college — on the giveaway. Democratic lawmakers in 2024 approved the funds for the incentive program, encouraging students to complete the FAFSA form. The winning funds are already set aside in the current state budget approved in the last legislative session. The funding is one-time, and lawmakers have not decided whether to set aside similar funding again in the next state budget for another sweepstakes in the future. To enter the sweepstakes, Michigan students and parents must create an account on to fill out the FAFSA form and then the student must text "CASH" to 855-50K-TICKET or 855-505-8425. Students who have already completed their FAFSA form can also participate by sending the text message. Students can also mail an entry form available at and send it to: "Ticket to Tuition Entry, c/o Güd Marketing, 1223 Turner Street, Suite 101, Lansing, MI 48906." The deadline to enter is May 16. A random drawing will be conducted in late May. The contest is open to legal U.S. residents living in Michigan who complete the FAFSA form for the first-time to use during the 2025-26 school year. Michigan Education: Preschool is free for all families in Michigan — but many don't know about it Whitmer wants to boost the share of Michigan residents who pursue post-secondary education and skills training and has set a goal of reaching 60% of Michigan adults with a skill certificate or college degree by 2030. That share stands at about 52%, according to the most recent data shared by Whitmer from the Lumina Foundation, whose analysis her administration has used to track progress made toward reaching target. During the sweepstakes launch event, the governor touted the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which provides financial aid for college and university, and the Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship, which provides support for a career training program. Whitmer also championed the Community College Guarantee, which provides a tuition-free path for graduating high school students to attend their local community college. "We don't want any student to leave money on the table," Whitmer said. Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@ or 313-296-5743. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan sweepstakes will award 50 students for FAFSA form
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Whitmer says record pre-K enrollment will save Michigan families $10K per year
Governor Gretchen Whitmer, speaking at Livonia Early Childhood Center, where she announced that Michigan has achieved record PreK enrollment. March 12, 2025. Submitted photo. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says Michigan families will save an estimated $10,000 per year in child care costs after the state achieved record PreK for All enrollment. Whitmer, making the announcement Wednesday at the Livonia Early Childhood Center, said enrollment in the Great Start Readiness Program, or GSRP, the state's primary PreK program, is up 24% since she unveiled the PreK for All initiative in 2023. 'This school year, a record number of children are enrolled in no-cost, high-quality PreK programs across the state, saving Michigan $475 million,' said Whitmer. 'Today, 56% of Michigan's 4-year-olds are enrolled in free preK, and in this year's budget, we can build on this momentum to set up more kids for lifelong success and save even more families more money.' According to a press release from the Governor's office, preliminary reports to the state from intermediate school districts indicate more than 47,500 4-year-olds are enrolled in GSRP programs in the 2024-25 school year. That includes students in Head Start, developmental kindergarten and early childhood special education. In addition to creating a foundation for children to be successful in school and work, a recent analysis by the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research found that for every dollar spent on PreK for All, $1.72 in total economic benefits is created in Michigan. Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea is the director of the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, or MiLEAP. 'We know how important early learning experiences are to children's development and success, which is why MiLEAP is working with partners across the state to expand access to PreK for All,' she said. 'PreK not only benefits 4-year-olds, it also benefits our economy as families can work or go to school knowing their children are safe and learning.' Enrollment in PreK for All is now open to all families, no matter their income, for the 2025-26 school year for children who will be 4-years-old by Dec. 1, 2025. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MiLEAP announces grants to support student success
LANSING, Mich. (WOOD) — The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential is accepting applications from colleges and universities for the next round of grants aimed at removing barriers to getting an education and improving graduation rates. They are part of a $45 million Student Success initiative, which MiLEAP said in a Friday release is 'the state's largest-ever grant program aimed at increasing student success rates' in higher education. The initiative will help the state achieve its Sixty by 30 goal of 60% of adults with a skill certificate or degree by 2030. 'To achieve Sixty by 30, we are focused on access and student success,' MiLEAP Deputy Director of Higher Education Michelle Richard said in a statement. 'The Student Success Grants encourage colleges to take a deep look at what's working and where they can improve. These grants equip institutions with the necessary funding to expand support services, offer direct assistance and develop innovative approaches to increase student success.' The Student Success Competitive Grant Opportunities guide lays out the different categories of grants that will be available in 2025: barrier removal for students, barrier removal for growing a college's capacity and college success. Applications are due between April and June, depending on what type of grant is being sought. MiLEAP will host online office hours to assist grant applicants every Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. starting Feb. 18. Office hours to assist grant recipients will be every Thursday starting on Feb. 20 from noon to 1 p.m. Click here to learn more about the Sixty by 30 grants. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
11-02-2025
- Business
- CBS News
FAFSA participation among high school seniors gets boost with state of Michigan grants
(CBS DETROIT) - Several southeast Michigan school districts and academies have won state funds toward getting more high school seniors to fill out college financial aid applications. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA, is the required document for a long list of college financial assistance programs such as work-study, state grants, federal student loans and some scholarships. To stay ahead of award deadlines, students and their parents need to fill out the FAFSA several months before each academic year begins in the fall. About half of high school seniors across the country typically fill out that paperwork; a new version of the process launched ahead of the current academic year. Michigan does not have a statewide requirement that high school seniors submit this application, but about a dozen other states do. Instead, the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential announced Challenge Award funds to districts that take specific steps to get more students through the process. The money is based on number of high school seniors at the participating schools. The money is to be used on speakers, checklists, events and related activities meant to encourage students to complete the application and consider their next education steps. The rules do allow students to exempt from completing FAFSA under specific circumstances. "Every student should have the opportunity to pursue their educational and career dreams regardless of how much money is in their pocket," said Michelle Richard, deputy director of Higher Education at MiLEAP. "By participating in the Universal FAFSA Challenge, these districts are ensuring every one of their graduates has the information they need to make informed decisions about their futures. Completing the FAFSA is the key to unlocking essential funding opportunities, and we are proud to support these districts in their efforts." Of the 75 districts and academies on this year's award list, several are from southeast Michigan. Those schools, and the state funds awarded from this program, are as follows: Ann Arbor Public Schools, $1,126,444.77. Dearborn City School District, $1,293,149.07. Hamtramck, School District of the City of, $208,777.29. Hartland Consolidated Schools, $357,223.50. Kensington Woods Schools, $15,082.77. Lakeview Public Schools (Macomb), $282,603.48. Lenawee ISD, $4,762.98. Summerfield Schools, $30,165.54. University Preparatory Academy (PSAD), $109,548.54. University Preparatory Art & Design, $96,053.43. University Preparatory Science and Math (PSAD), $80,970.66. West Bloomfield School District, $415,966.92.
