Representative Ed Butler, R-Rickman, says it was something personal that led him to file House Bill 1803.
Butler says his daughter decided to attend higher education classes in the summer and he realized the Tennessee Promise scholarship wouldn’t be available to students who make a similar choice to attend classes during those months.
“I realized there was a gap and working with TBR (Tennessee Board of Regents) for students to have the flexibility to go through the summertime,” said Butler. “I realized there was a gap in the system and so that’s where this came from.”
The Tennessee Promise provides funding to help high school graduates attend a community or technical college free of tuition and mandatory fees. The scholarship covers tuition and fees not covered by other grants and scholarships.
Currently the Tennessee Promise is only available to students in the fall and spring semesters. Butler’s bill would change that and allow students to receive the scholarship during the summer.
The House Higher Education Subcommittee advanced Rickman’s bill unanimously on a voice vote Monday after hearing from Rickman and Lou Hanemann who serves as the Tennessee Higher Education Commission Chief of Staff.
Hanemann says the change will be an important benefit to students who want to start their college journey earlier.
“With Tennessee Promise what we’re trying to do is allow a Promise student who wants to begin their college immediately after high school graduation in the summer, they should be allowed to do so,” sad Hanemann.
The bill now heads to the House Education Administration Committee.
