Dive Brief:

• Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam is visiting schools to promote his Tennessee Promise initiative, which gives high school graduates the opportunity for a full ride to any two-year college.  
• In order to be eligible, high schoolers must work with a mentor and complete eight hours of community service a year.  
• Haslam told students at one school, "We don't want anyone to say, 'I'd like to go to college, but can't afford it.'"  

Dive Insight:

Tennessee Promise is part of Haslam's "Drive to 55" initiative, which aims to dive up the state's high school graduation rates. While the state currently hovers at a 32% graduation rate, it hopes to bring this number up to 55% by 2025. Fear of debt discourages many from attending college, and without the goal of higher ed, finishing high school can perhaps feel like a waste of time for some students. This program helps alleviate those anxieties while ensuring that students are better prepared for the future. The governor expects the program to cost the state about $34 million a year, and he hopes to pay that with lottery reserve and endowment funds.