Woodfin Announces Plan for Free College Tuition to City Graduates

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2019/08/800px-Randall_Woodfin-e1567019655246.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:795;s:6:"height";i:450;s:4:"file";s:48:"2019/08/800px-Randall_Woodfin-e1567019655246.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"800px-Randall_Woodfin-e1567019655246-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"800px-Randall_Woodfin-e1567019655246-336x190.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:190;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"800px-Randall_Woodfin-e1567019655246-771x436.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:436;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:46:"800px-Randall_Woodfin-e1567019655246-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"800px-Randall_Woodfin-e1567019655246-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"800px-Randall_Woodfin-e1567019655246-300x300.jpg";s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:300;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"800px-Randall_Woodfin-e1567019655246-549x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:549;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"800px-Randall_Woodfin-e1567019655246-468x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:468;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"800px-Randall_Woodfin-e1567019655246-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:11:{s:8:"aperture";i:0;s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";i:0;s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";i:0;s:3:"iso";i:0;s:13:"shutter_speed";i:0;s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";i:0;}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Sam McPherson
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] =>  Wikimedia Commons
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_wp_attachment_backup_sizes] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:10:{s:9:"full-orig";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:1200;s:4:"file";s:25:"800px-Randall_Woodfin.jpg";}s:14:"thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"800px-Randall_Woodfin-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:11:"medium-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"800px-Randall_Woodfin-336x504.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:504;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:10:"large-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:34:"800px-Randall_Woodfin-771x1157.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:1157;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"wbhm-icon-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"800px-Randall_Woodfin-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"800px-Randall_Woodfin-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"wbhm-featured-square-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"800px-Randall_Woodfin-300x300.jpg";s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:300;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:23:"wbhm-featured-home-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"800px-Randall_Woodfin-207x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:207;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:27:"wbhm-featured-carousel-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"800px-Randall_Woodfin-177x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:177;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:19:"post-thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"800px-Randall_Woodfin-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 0
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => error
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:1:{s:4:"full";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:37:"The backup directory is not writable.";}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:0;s:14:"optimized_size";i:0;s:7:"percent";i:0;}}
        )

)
1656839027 
1567001682

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin released details Wednesday of a plan to offer Birmingham City Schools graduates the chance to go to a public two-year or four-year school in Alabama tuition free. This follows a tweet Tuesday evening announcing the program.


The program is part of the mayor’s Birmingham Promise initiative, a public-private partnership that began with an apprenticeship program for BCS students. Woodfin says the college tuition component is second phase and will be offered to students graduating in the class of 2020 and beyond.

Financial awards will be “last dollar,” meaning they will make up the gap left by other financial aid. Students also must live in the city of Birmingham and attend BCS from kindergarten to 12th grade to receive the full amount. Those attending fewer years will have awards prorated.

In a Facebook Live video, Woodfin says he hears from parents who are worried about paying for their children’s college education.


“I want to make sure they have the opportunity to go and they can afford to stay. This is our way of making sure our children have an opportunity,” Woodfin says.

Woodfin says the city will put up at least $10 million over five years to support the program, with additional money coming from private fundraising. Long term plans call for creating an endowment.

According to data from the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, 32% of BCS graduates in 2017 went to a four-year school and 22% enrolled in a two-year college. That study did not break down attendance by public or private institution.

Photo by Sam McPherson

 

Rescuers search for survivors after ferry sinking near Bali, Indonesia

The ferry sank almost half an hour after leaving Ketapang port in the East Java town of Banyuwangi late Wednesday, bound for Bali's Gilimanuk port, a 30-mile trip.

Haiti’s gangs have ‘near-total control’ of the capital, U.N. says

An estimated 90% of the capital Port-au-Prince is now under control of criminal groups who are expanding attacks not only into surrounding areas but beyond into previously peaceful areas.

Federal judge strikes down Trump’s order suspending asylum access at the southern border

The ruling was a win for immigrant advocacy groups that sued over the president's order, which they say put thousands of lives at risk.

A Ukrainian actress saw herself in a White House video — and created one in response

Antonina Khyzhniak, who appeared in stock footage included in a White House Instagram video for the Trump administration's tax bill, responded with a humorous video — and a serious message.

CBS is the latest news giant to bend to Trump’s power

With a $16 million payment to settle President Trump's lawsuit over 60 Minutes' interview with Kamala Harris, CBS becomes the latest media outlet to bow to his power.

‘Love Island’ and modern dating: why romance is dead

This season of Love Island USA is making some viewers feel exasperated. Is it a reflection of today's dating scene?

More Education Coverage