Bill would extend state grants to eligible career-training students

The Community College Opportunity Grant Program would help eligible career-training students pay tuition and approved fees left after other grants and scholarships. Coverage would include training after high school at county colleges and adult programs at county vocational schools. Training must prepare students for a license, recognized certification, or national exam; registered apprenticeships are included. Training must last at least four months. Students must meet residency, application, and academic rules. Annual adjusted gross income must be between $0 and $65,000, unless the state sets a higher ceiling. Awards would cover up to the training equivalent of 18 credits per semester, as set by the state student aid agency. Awards for lighter course loads would be reduced. Out-of-county awards would use the school's rate for local students. Students could not receive these grants for coursework at both a county college and a county vocational school. The expansion would apply to grants in the first full academic year following enactment. County college coverage would last up to five semesters, or six for programs normally requiring at least six semesters. County vocational school coverage would last up to two years.

The Tuition Aid Grant Program would help eligible career-training students pay tuition, based on financial need and available state funding. Coverage would include training after high school at county colleges and county vocational schools. Programs must include at least 150 classroom hours and prepare students for a license, recognized certification, or national exam; registered apprenticeships are included. Students must meet residency, financial-need, application, and academic rules. The state student aid agency would decide which training hours or credits count as full-time enrollment. Part-time coverage would require separate state funding and agency rules. Awards could not exceed the school's normal tuition. Grants for degree students could not be reduced to fund career-training grants. The expansion would apply to grants in the first full academic year following enactment. Coverage would last up to six semesters at county colleges or two years at county vocational schools.