(Washington, DC) Mayor Anthony A. Williams officially kicked off the Tuition Assistance Program during a press conference at H.D. Woodson Senior High School. The Tuition Assistance Program is a result of the DC College Access Act of 1999 that passed in Congress and was signed by the President last November.

"This program is part of our overall effort to provide first class educational opportunities so that all of our citizens can reach their full potential," said Mayor Williams. "I strongly support expanding this program so that District students can receive tuition assistance at public colleges and universities anywhere in the country, instead of just in Maryland and Virginia."

The District has $17 million for the program. Over the next few months, the city will be evaluating whether or not these resources will allow the District to expand nationwide. A final decision will be made by this summer.

There are two types of subsidies available for District residents:

• For District residents who attend public colleges or universities in Maryland and Virginia, the program will pay the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition of up to $10,000 per year with a lifetime cap of $50,000 per student.
• For District students who attend private colleges in the local Washington, DC area and private historically black colleges and universities in Maryland and Virginia, the legislation authorizes grants of up to $2,500 per year with a lifetime cap of $12,500 per student.