Students relying on the Michigan Promise Scholarships that they have already earned may learn a hard lesson and find that the government, specifically the state of Michigan, is not to be trusted.
A bill that would eliminate the Michigan Promise Scholarship was passed on June 23 by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education. 
Before becoming a law, the bill must be approved by the state House and signed by Governor Jennifer Granholm, who told reporters last week she does not support the bill.
Now is the time to voice your opinion on this by contacting your legislator and contacting Governor Granholm.
The bill also calls for funding cuts to additional college financial aid programs, as there is a $1.7 billion deficit in the state’s budget that needs to be dealt with.
The Michigan Promise Scholarship is one of the only merit based scholarships available to students. Most other state and federal aid is based on need.
The Promise Scholarship requires a high school junior to spend many hours on an extra test called the Michigan Merit Exam. If the student tests “competent” in all areas, there is an award of $4,000 towards college tuition. Students can also earn this $4000 after successfully completing two years of postsecondary education in Michigan.
What's terrible about this bill is that the scholarship was PROMISED to these kids after they sat through days of unnecessary testing, and the money has already been factored into their college decisions.
In fact, my son has a letter from the governor congratulating him on this achievement and telling him how to register to redeem the money against his tuition. His tuition statement from Saginaw Valley State University already has the money factored into his costs.
It would be sad to cut the program for the future, but to PROMISE something and then take it away is criminal!
While many people feel that this program is a frill, and that kids should pay their own way through college, others disagree.
“The kids today are footing much more of the total cost than their parents did,” said one reader. “The state has been cutting its support for public universities for more than a decade."
Another sarcastic reader quips “as states continue to take money away from edukayshun at all levels (as they are here in Michigan!), are sosyity will bekum inkreesingly stoopid. Kupple this with shipping all jobs and nowlege to other kuntrees and the U.S. will no longer kumpeet in a glowbal markit. Skool is a wayst anyways!"
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Comments
Unbelievable! My kids were both counting on that money.
Why is this surprising? Michigan did this once before. They have created bureaucracies to run these programs and then cut them.
It's good for the kids to learn now: never trust the government. I do think that this is one area that can be cut, as it doesn't make a difference in most kids being able to afford college. However, they should honor current scholarships.
I am so upset. I have twins and they both worked very hard to get that scholarship. What are we teaching our kids that hard work does not pay off.I hammered that very principle into my kids and they did what they were supposed to. I think they should at least honor the scholarship this year because both of my children were counting on that money.
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