CUMBERLAND, R.I. (AP) — A tuition-free college proposal that attracted national attention to Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo and raised the hopes of college-bound high school seniors has survived, but will help fewer students after it was gutted by fellow Democrats in the state legislature.
The first-term governor counts the scaled-back pilot as a success, saying she had to compromise to close an unexpected budget shortfall.
Free tuition for in-state Community College of Rhode Island students was included in a budget passed Thursday night by the Democratic-controlled state House of Representatives. It’s expected to be approved by the Senate next week.
Raimondo’s original plan would have also covered the last two years at 4-year public colleges. Her partial victory comes as she eyes re-election in 2018 and is seen as a national Democratic voice.
