Parents interested in Washington state's Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program are invited to a presentation to learn how to save money for college tuition.
GET is a prepaid tuition plan. Program staff will be available to answer questions.
The event runs from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Cottonwood Elementary, 16734 Cottonwood Creek Blvd., Kennewick.
To register, call 1-800-955-2318 or email getoutreach@hecb.wa.gov.
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Make GET work
Make GET work
What seemed like such a great deal 14 years ago, Washington's 529 GET program now appears to be a liability to the state as the Legislature is now deciding on whether or not to change the wording of the program, specifically to not pay for tuition increases for certain degrees or "fees unique to specific programs of study."
In its original form, GET pays full tuition no matter what degree the participant is enrolled in. In its new form, it may but only in certain cases.
There is no question that because of the market downturn, the state is in a bind funding the GET program. To worsen the situation, state universities last year were allowed to set their own tuition and also charge extra for certain degrees resulting in significant increases, putting even more strain on GET. Universities must stop looking for ways to continually increase costs, which are already prohibitively high and nearly out of reach to those with common means.
Guaranteed Education Tuition faces new hurdle
Guaranteed Education Tuition faces new hurdle
Washington universities won authority last year to vary undergraduate tuition rates according to what different degrees really cost. But before they start charging future engineers more than English majors, schools are grappling with how it would affect the state's prepaid tuition program.
To protect the solvency of the Guaranteed Education Tuition program, state and university officials and lawmakers are considering imposing new fees to help pay for expensive degrees -- fees that wouldn't be covered by GET.
State Sen. Jim Kastama criticizes it as a potential "bait and switch" for parents who were told buying 100 GET units would cover a year of their child's education no matter how high tuition climbed.
Learn about state's prepaid college tuition program
Learn about state's prepaid college tuition program
A program that allows Washingtonians to prepay college tuition for their kids at today's prices will start its annual open enrollment today.
On Thursday, Tri-City parents can visit a free workshop on the state's Guaranteed Education Tuition -- or GET -- program.
The workshop will explain what the program is, when parents should start paying in to it and what other options are out there to pay for college.
UW students share financial woes with regents
UW students share financial woes with regents
University of Washington students are sharing their financial woes with the school's Board of Regents this week.
Don't turn GET program into a bait and switch
Don't turn GET program into a bait and switch
Washington families that are counting on the GET program to pay for college, may not get what they thought they were getting when they signed up.
Guaranteed Education Tuition allows families to buy credits for future tuition. One hundred GET credits equals one year of tuition at the state school of your choice -- assuming you get admitted.
The idea is for parents to start planning for college early and buy credits over time so that when their baby leaves the nest, he can fly right on over to a state school.
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