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CCBC Could Benefit From Obama's Proposed Community College Plan

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WJZ) -- Free tuition is music to every parent's ears. The president has a proposal that could benefit 9 million students each year.

Pat Warren reports on the announcement today.

President Obama makes community colleges the centerpiece of his education plan.

The president has a plan for the Community College of Baltimore County.

"I'm announcing an ambitious new plan to bring down the cost of community college tuition in America. I want to bring it down to zero," said the president.

"That would be great. That would be awesome reason," said Maya Adetula.

Maya Adetula is a CCBC student who didn't have the grades to win scholarships, or the money to pay her own way through a four year college.

"Yeah because if you wanted to go to a four year college and the scholarship GPA is always 3.0 and above, most of them. I really didn't qualify for," said Adetula.

"For millions of Americans, community colleges are essential pathways to the middle class," said President Obama.

"Free tuition would be the absolute best way to ensure that anyone who wants a college education could get one," CCBC President Sandra Kurtinitis.

"We do expect everybody to get an equal shot. We do expect everybody can go as far as their dreams and hard work will take them. We don't expect anybody to be bound by the circumstances of their birth. If they were I wouldn't be here," said Obama.

The price tag hasn't been nailed down yet, causing some republicans to refer to the president's proposal as more of a talking point than a plan.

The proposal requires congressional approval.

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