On Jan. 3, 2017, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, alongside Senator Bernie Sanders, announced a plan to offer free tuition at state colleges to hundreds of thousands of middle- and low-income New Yorkers. Under the governor’s plan, any college student who has been accepted to a state or city university in New York — including two-year community colleges — will be eligible for an Excelsior Scholarship provided they or their family earn $125,000 or less annually.

In response, UFT President Michael Mulgrew issued the following statement:

For far too long, some of New York’s best and brightest students have been denied access to higher education due to a lack of financial resources. I want to thank Governor Cuomo for his visionary Excelsior Scholarship program, and Sen. Sanders for his support. This proposal would go a long way toward leveling the playing field and helping thousands of students reach their full potential.