From the start, the challenge of federal #FreeCollege has been making it work in 50 states with 50 higher ed systems (more, really since a state like mine - Michigan - has no system) and, more specifically, how not to reward states for under-investing in higher ed. (1/9) @chingos wrote about these risks a few years back but my sense is that advocacy and policy folks didn't pay a lot of attention at the time, assuming they could be managed down the road. (2/9) nytimes.com/2019/12/20/ups…

@kimberkoz did a great job writing about @MDRC_News’s new report on the Detroit Promise Path. MDRC’s evaluation had shown such promising early results that @DetroitPromise had extended "intrusive coaching" services to all scholarship recipients. (1/5) detroitnews.com/in-depth/news/… The news that the intervention did not increase degree completion is disappointing but holds two important messages: The Detroit Promise is what we @UpjohnInstitute would consider a “low-intensity” program, funding cc on a last-dollar basis (after Pell). (2/5)

This week in #FreeCollegeQuestions -- a more specific version of last week's question, “Nothing is free, someone is paying.” Today, “Why should I pay for other people’s children to go to college?” (We’ll leave aside for now the question of free college for adults.) (1/11) Degrees and credentials these days are generally thought of as private goods – the person earning them reaps their benefit, so that person (or that person’s family) should bear the cost. This was not always the case. (2/11)

2021 will bring a free-college proposal in Congress and publication of my book, “The Path to Free College.” In honor of both events, I’m launching #FreeCollegeQuestions, a series of weekly posts to explore questions average Americans may have about free college. First up in #FreeCollegeQuestions, “If college is free will people value it less?” Richard DeVos (Betsy’s father, who died in 2018) made this argument about the Kalamazoo Promise back in 2006, telling the Grand Rapids Economic Club "If it's free, it's not worth much."

My fascination with the free-college idea is well documented. I've spent 14+ years studying it and have written 2.5 books on the subject (#3 is under way). One reason for the fascination is the tremendous flexibility of the idea as witnessed today. michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309… The free-college or "Promise" idea is eminently adaptable to all kinds of circumstances and settings. Today, @GovWhitmer announced a version of free college ideally suited to the COVID-19 economic and social crisis.