Benton Harbor Seeks Promise Zone Designation from Lansing

Benton Harbor Area Schools officials say they are hoping to send their outgoing students to college for free in the near future.

Although still in its preliminary stages, Leonard Seawood, the district's superintendent, said officials are putting together a plan to present to the state in hopes of approval for such a program.

"We've had to go through the hurdles," he said.

The idea was first started in Kalamazoo a few years ago. It's called the Kalamazoo Promise and provides for any high school graduate in Kalamazoo's public school system accepted into a Michigan college or university to receive free tuition. The program, which has since been implemented in other districts around the state, is privately funded.

Seawood said there are 18 other sites around the state that are in the same boat as Benton Harbor and attempting to receive backing from the state, which is required. He added the most important question is how the district will raise the money to pay for the tuition.

www.southbendtribune.com/article/20101110/News01/11100360/1052/News01