AUSTIN, Texas — Jose Ramirez is a senior at Hays High School.
He's part of the Kyle Fire Academy, which has a partnership with Hays CISD and the Kyle Fire Department. He leaves school each day to train to become a firefighter.
Ramirez also wants to further his education but is worried about the financial burden.
"You don't want to tell people you're in debt. So [to] be able to say that you're not in debt [puts] a big smile on my face," Ramirez said.
That could be on the horizon for the senior. Ramirez is interested in attending Austin Community College (ACC), and the school is aiming to start a new program that would make college tuition free for all high school seniors in Central Texas.
ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart said the college's most vulnerable students would be able to use their scholarships and financial aid for their living expenses rather than paying for school.
"That will make it more likely that they're able to stay in school and finish, which means they'll be able to change not just their economic path, but the generations that follow them as well," Lowery-Hart said.
Lowery-Hart credits House Bill 8 for making the proposal possible. The bill funds community colleges in Texas, rewarding colleges for awarding degrees, certificates and other "credentials of value."
This last session, ACC received nearly $7 million, opening the door for the school to develop this pilot program.
"Our theory here is that if we can make college more affordable, more students won't just enroll, but they'll actually complete their degrees, which will then increase funding from the state," Lowery-Hart said.
The goal is to take the full proposal to the board in February and have it voted on in March, making it available for graduating high school seniors in the fall.
"I want that American dream that everybody talks about. I want to be able to support myself and others," Ramirez said. "Anything I can do to help me get there is the biggest gift I could get, you know."
It is providing opportunities to chase dreams over debt.
If approved, ACC hopes to expand its partnership and make the pilot program available to all students. Under the program, students can have their associate's degree paid for. If they choose to pursue a bachelor's degree, the college could cover those costs as well.