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WEBVTT BE IN JEOPARDY. WLKY’S DENI KAMPER EXPLAINS HOW A BILL IN THE INDIANA LEGISLATURE IS THREATENING THE PROGRAM. >> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT ONLY HAVING GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO GET EDUCATED BUT THEY HAVE A JOB WAITING FOR THEM WHEN THEY ARE DONE. >> WHEN JEFFERSONVILLE MAYOR MIKE MOORE ANNOUNCED IN NOVEMBER THAT JEFFERSONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WOULD BE ABLE TO ATTEND IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR FREE, KIDS AND PARENTS SAW A BRIGHTER FUTURE. IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING DAYS HERE AT JEFF HIGH. >> THE PROGRAM CALLED , JEFFERSONVILLE’S PROMISE, USES TAX INCREMENT FINANCING OR TIF FUNDS TO PAY FOR STUDENTS TO EARN A TWO-YEAR ASSOCIATES DEGREE. >> THEY ARE ALL DOLLARS GENERATED FROM THE NEW BUSINESSES WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING IN AND GROW AS OUR COMMUNITY. >> A NEW BILL WOULD IMPOSE STRICTER REGULATIONS ON HOW TIF FUNDS CAN BE USED. MAYOR MOORE SAYS THE CHANGE WOULD DERAIL JEFFERSONVILLE’S PROMISE. HOW DO YOU TELL A KID WHO THINKS HE IS GOING TO COLLEG THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE JUST PASSED SOMETHING THAT SEND YOU DON’T GET TO GO. >> PRINCIPAL JULIE STRAIGHT SAYS MORE THAN HALF OF HER STUDENTS ARE ON FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH. -- >> I HAD STUDENTS COME UP WITH TEARS IN THEIR EYES. SO EXCITED THAT THEY GO TO GO TO COLLEGE. >> PRINCIPAL JULIE STRAIGHT SAYS MORE THAN HALF OF HER STUDENTS ARE ON FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH. SHE SAYS THE CHANGE IN THE LAW WOULD MEAN MANY OF THEM WON’T GET TO COLLEGE. >> IT CANNOT HAPPEN. IT WOULD BE DEVASTATED TO MANY OF OUR FAMILIES. >> MAYOR MOORE WENT TO INDIANAPOLIS ON WEDNESDAY IN AN EFFORT TO CONVINCE LEGISLATORS TO VOTE NO ON THE BILL. HE HAS A MESSAGE FOR JEFFERSONVILLE PARENTS AND STUDENTS. >> I AM AS

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A bill being considered in the Indiana state House of Representatives could derail a program that will allow students at Jeffersonville High School to attend Ivy Tech Community College for free. The program, Jeffersonville's Promise, uses the city's tax increment financing funds to pay for qualifying Jeffersonville High School students to earn an associate degree at Ivy Tech. The first class to benefit will graduate in May 2019. "They are all dollars generated from the new businesses that we've been able to bring in and grow as a community," said Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore. House Bill 1596 was proposed by Rep. Ed Clere, of New Albany, and would tighten regulations around how TIF funds can be used. Clere said his goal is to increase accountability when TIF dollars are used for education and training programs. Moore said the change would effectively kill Jeffersonville's Promise before it ever gets off the ground."How do you tell a kid who thinks he's going to go to college, 'You know, the state Legislature's just passed something that says, no you don't get to go?'" Moore said. Clere said Jeffersonville would simply have to make changes to the program, if the bill becomes law. Julie Straight, the principal at Jeffersonville High School, said the program has nearly doubled the number of students who plan to attend Ivy Tech after graduation. "I had students come and stop with tears in their eyes, so excited that this meant they get to go to college," Straight said.According to Straight, more than half of the students are on free or reduced lunch and don't have another pathway to college if the bill passes. "It can't happen. It really would be devastating to many of our families," she said. Moore traveled to Indianapolis on Wednesday to ask lawmakers to vote against the bill. He said he has a message for parents and students who are nervous about the future. "I'm asking you to don't give up hope. I'm going to fight hard for this," he said.