Latest news with #andPotential
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.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$10M given to MI schools for FAFSA completion incentives
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — $10 million has been awarded to 75 school districts and public schools across Michigan to integrate FAFSA completion into their high school graduation requirements, the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) announced Monday. The funds were given as part of the Universal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Challenge, an initiative designed to increase FAFSA completion rates among graduating seniors in the state, connect them with more financial aid, and increase college and career training enrollment. Participating districts will use the funds to integrate FAFSA completion into their high school graduation requirements with a straightforward opt-out provision for qualifying students. Completing the FAFSA is the first step for students to access state and federal scholarships and loans. MiLEAP organizers hope that by increasing FAFSA completion rates, higher education will become more affordable in the state. Funding went to the following schools: District Name Award Amount Ann Arbor Public Schools $1,126,444.77 Atherton Community Schools $47,629.80 Au Gres-Sims School District $29,371.71 Bad Axe Public Schools $55,568.10 Bark River-Harris School District $39,691.50 Bay City Academy $31,753.20 Bear Lake Schools $12,701.28 Belding Area School District $112,723.86 Bentley Community School District $51,598.95 Birch Run Area Schools $134,157.27 Buckley Community Schools $25,402.56 Byron Center Public Schools $282,603.48 Camden-Frontier School $26,990.22 Carson City-Crystal Area Schools $58,743.42 Carsonville-Port Sanilac School District $22,227.24 Casman Alternative Academy $7,938.30 Charlton Heston Academy $50,805.12 Chesaning Union Schools $78,589.17 Clio Area School District $175,436.43 Coleman Community Schools $31,753.20 Croswell-Lexington Community Schools $110,342.37 Da Vinci Schools $62,712.57 Dearborn City School District $1,293,149.07 East Jackson Community Schools $71,444.70 Evart Public Schools $61,124.91 Frankenmuth School District $94,465.77 Grand Traverse Academy $33,340.86 Grass Lake Community Schools $74,620.02 Hamtramck, School District of the City of $208,777.29 Hanover-Horton School District $60,331.08 Harbor Beach Community Schools $40,485.33 Hartland Consolidated Schools $357,223.50 Hudsonville Public School District $435,018.84 Inland Lakes Schools $40,485.33 International Academy of Flint $45,248.31 Iron Mountain Public Schools $84,145.98 Ironwood Area Schools of Gogebic County $59,537.25 Jackson Preparatory & Early College $50,805.12 Kensington Woods Schools $15,082.77 Kentwood Public Schools $562,031.64 Lakeview Public Schools (Macomb) $282,603.48 Lenawee ISD $4,762.98 Lincoln Consolidated School District $276,252.84 Madison Academy $43,660.65 Marlette Community Schools $31,753.20 Mason County Eastern Schools $27,784.05 Merrill Community Schools $41,279.16 Michigan Center School District $103,197.90 Michigan Mathematics and Science Academy $27,784.05 Midland Public Schools $474,710.34 Napoleon Community Schools $96,847.26 New Lothrop Area Public Schools $71,444.70 Northwest Community Schools $217,509.42 Oakridge Public Schools $90,496.62 Orchard View Schools $126,218.97 Pickford Public Schools $30,959.37 Reading Community Schools $37,310.01 Rudyard Area Schools $31,753.20 Saginaw Township Community Schools $287,366.46 Springport Public Schools $48,423.63 St. Charles Community Schools $61,918.74 Summerfield Schools $30,165.54 Tekonsha Community Schools $19,845.75 The New Standard Academy $19,845.75 Trillium Academy $30,165.54 Ubly Community Schools $34,134.69 Unionville-Sebewaing Area S.D. $38,103.84 University Preparatory Academy (PSAD) $109,548.54 University Preparatory Art & Design $96,053.43 University Preparatory Science and Math (PSAD) $80,970.66 Vandercook Lake Public Schools $35,722.35 Voyageur Academy $97,641.09 West Bloomfield School District $415,966.92 Western School District $168,291.96 Ypsilanti Community Schools $246,881.13 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
