Free Community College for BPS High School Graduates Announced Friday

Boston, MA - Boston Public School high school graduates above a certain grade-point average will receive two year's free community college tuition, under a new plan unveiled by the mayor Friday.

In an interview on WHBH 89.7's monthly "Ask the Mayor" segment, Mayor Marty Walsh announced the new program, which extends to students graduating with a 2.2 GPA or above, and meeting other criteria.

The program begins June 1, funded through the City's Neighborhood Jobs Trust, which collects linkage fees from large-scale commercial developments in the city. It has already launched at Madison Park Vocational-Technical High School.

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To be eligible, students must be able to complete community college on a two-year schedule, meet low-income status for Pell Grants, complete the federal assistance papers, place out of developmental classes, and gain admission to either Bunker Hill Community College or Roxbury Community College.

A press release out shortly after Walsh's radio announcement noted, "While the Tuition Free Plan will help address the barriers to cost, the City recognizes that a more comprehensive phase is needed for the long-term, in order to prepare graduates for the challenges of higher education and beyond."

Per the press release, the initiative will also work with BPS guidance counselors, high school staff, community partners and resident groups to encourage participation from BPS graduates and their families. Later phases of the plan will use an integrated model of support services, bridge programs, dual enrollments, remedial classes, and resources for connecting students with employment opportunities, career navigation services, and financial aid for completing post-secondary education, the release said.

Walsh led the WGBH interview Friday with the new program, but conversation inevitably turned to ongoing news sparked by a Boston Globe article last weekend. In the second interview on the topic this week, Walsh appeared increasingly agitated at continued allegations over his role in a federal wiretap while leading a local trade group.

As in the previous conversation, Walsh repeated that he had no knowledge of the reported federal probe or the reported conversation. Walsh said he had no knowledge of any federal subpoenas delivered to his office related to the case. Full background on the wiretap report and Walsh's response here.