[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-585193-105":59,"doc-detail-585193-en":134},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":127,"head_meta":129,"extra_data":131,"updated_unix":133},105,"en","extend-reconnect-eligibility-down-to-21-policy-proposal","Extend Reconnect Eligibility Down to 21 - Policy Proposal","","This document outlines a policy proposal to lower the age of eligibility for the Michigan Reconnect program from 25 to 21. By closing the five-to-six-year financial aid gap that exists between the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and the Reconnect program, the initiative aims to incentivize students to pursue postsecondary education immediately after high school. With an $8 million investment, the expansion seeks to increase the attainment of degrees and skilled certificates, addressing the demand for higher education in 84% of Michigan's top 50 projected jobs by 2032 and improving economic outcomes for residents.",{"@graph":69,"@context":126},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":40,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/extend-reconnect-eligibility-down-to-21-policy-proposal/585193/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/extend-reconnect-eligibility-down-to-21-policy-proposal/585193.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Maya Linwood","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-06","2026-10-15",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":44},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118,122],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What is the core policy goal of the proposal?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"The goal is to lower the age of eligibility for the Michigan Reconnect program from 25 to 21 to eliminate the financial aid gap for students after the Michigan Achievement Scholarship expires.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What is the required investment to implement this policy?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"An investment of $8 million is proposed to support the expansion, which would bring the total funding for the Michigan Reconnect program to $50 million.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"Why is it critical to lower the age of eligibility?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"Currently, there is a five-to-six-year gap where traditional high school graduates are ineligible for major state financial aid, which disincentivizes them from pursuing postsecondary education when they are ready.",{"name":123,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":124},"How does educational attainment impact the workforce in Michigan?",{"text":125,"@type":113},"Higher levels of educational attainment lead to increased entry-level wages, and 84% of Michigan's top 50 jobs by 2032 will require at least a bachelor's degree.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":128,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":130,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":132,"site_id":62},585193,1792720098,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":135},{"doc_id":132,"user_id":136,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":137,"doc_module":4,"category_id":39,"category_name":40,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":138,"file_id":139,"file_url":140,"file_type":141,"file_size":142,"view_count":44,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":8,"language":143,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":144,"faqs":145,"seo_title":146,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":147,"read_time":81,"preview_page_count":4},962084928432,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_155a257f0dc6eb9ab79c44ca47cae57d","Extend Reconnect Eligibility Down to 21  \nPolicy Goal  \nReduce or eliminate the gap between Michigan Reconnect and the Michigan Achievement Scholarship by lowering the age of eligibility for Reconnect from 25 to 21.  \nWhat’s the investment?  \n$8 million to support the expansion of the Michigan Reconnect program, bringing the total program funding to $50 million.  \nWhy is this important?  \nCurrently, Michigan students have access to the Michigan Achievement Scholarship (MAS) for 15 months following high school graduation. After this point, they will not  \nbe able to access the Michigan Reconnect program until they turn 25. For traditional high school graduates, this creates a five-to-six-year period where they are ineligible for either of the major state financial aid programs. This gap disincentivizes students to pursue a postsecondary education when they are ready and encourages them to wait until they are eligible for financial aid.  \n|  |\n| --- |\n| 79% |\n\n79% of Michigan’s population is 18 or older.  \nThe median Michigan family earns less  \n(approximately $69,183)  \nthan what they need to cover the cost of necessities ($73,488)  \n\n|  |\n| --- |\n| 69% |\n\n69% of Michigan’s population is 15 or older.  \n$73,488 ~~ ~~  \n$69,183  \nNeeded  \nMichigan Median  \n84%  \n84% of Michigan’s Hot 50 jobs by 2032 require at least a bachelor’s degree.  \nEntry-level wages (one year after entering the workforce)  \nfor Michiganders increase as their level of educational attainment increases.  \n What needs to be done?   \nTo help fill this gap, state policymakers should extend eligibility for the Michigan Reconnect program down to age 21.  \n What are the potential impacts?   \nThis will help reduce the gap between MAS and Reconnect, encouraging students to pursue a postsecondary education whenever they are ready. This will help students to earn a degree or skilled certificate sooner, increasing their job opportunities, income, and quality of life.","cbCaijydFjaZdyAy","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaijydFjaZdyAy","pdf",78636,"English","# Policy Goal\n# Investment and Rationale\n## The Financial Aid Gap\n## Economic Context and Job Requirements\n# Strategic Recommendation\n# Potential Impacts","[{\"question\":\"What is the core policy goal of the proposal?\",\"answer\":\"The goal is to lower the age of eligibility for the Michigan Reconnect program from 25 to 21 to eliminate the financial aid gap for students after the Michigan Achievement Scholarship expires.\"},{\"question\":\"What is the required investment to implement this policy?\",\"answer\":\"An investment of $8 million is proposed to support the expansion, which would bring the total funding for the Michigan Reconnect program to $50 million.\"},{\"question\":\"Why is it critical to lower the age of eligibility?\",\"answer\":\"Currently, there is a five-to-six-year gap where traditional high school graduates are ineligible for major state financial aid, which disincentivizes them from pursuing postsecondary education when they are ready.\"},{\"question\":\"How does educational attainment impact the workforce in Michigan?\",\"answer\":\"Higher levels of educational attainment lead to increased entry-level wages, and 84% of Michigan's top 50 jobs by 2032 will require at least a bachelor's degree.\"}]","Extend Reconnect Eligibility Down to 21 - Policy Proposal | PDF",1792054009]