Can lightning strike twice? If the bolt of energy is a new, expanded version of the Rhode Island Promise college scholarship program, let us hope so.
One of Gov. Gina M. Raimondo’s signature legislative achievements so far, the program pays tuition for full-time Community College of Rhode Island students for their two years in the program.
Its first year led directly to a 43 percent increase in first-time, full-time students at CCRI, and the school expects that those numbers will grow in the coming academic year.
The roughly $3 million cost of the program opened the doors of opportunity to a portion of the state’s population that previously was left out due to financial considerations. Simply, it was a good investment in the state’s No. 1 asset, its intellectual capital.
Now running for re-election, Gov. Raimondo is proposing to expand the program in two ways. One would return to her original idea, which included an option to pay for the final two years of students at the University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College. But a new wrinkle would extend the scholarship to certain part-time students at CCRI. Both ideas are worth pursuing.
The governor estimates the program would cost $35 million annually. Given the scope of the program it should not be a blank check. Means testing and residency requirements, among other things, should be considered in any final plan.
The question is, will the General Assembly, which balked at fully funding the original plan, step up and make this deserving program a reality? At this stage, we can only hope they make the right decision.
