FRANKFORT, Ky. — A scholarship program that would have provided free community college for all new high school graduates in Kentucky has been trimmed back to pay for only specialized work certificate programs.
The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that the Work Ready Scholarship program was proposed by House Democrats in the 2016 legislative session and approved by the General Assembly to pay tuition for college students seeking two-year associate degrees after existing state scholarship programs have been used.
However, in December Gov. Matt Bevin issued an executive order creating his own version of the scholarship program limited to those seeking certificates in five industries with worker shortages, like health care and construction.
House Minority Leader Rocky Adkins says Bevin’s move goes directly against the spirit of the original bill.