NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Nearly 23,000 students have registered to participate in Gov. Bill Haslam’s program to cover full tuition at two-year colleges for any high school graduate.

Members of the Tennessee Board of Regents got an update on the so-called Tennessee Promise initiative at their quarterly meeting Friday in Knoxville.

Mike Krause was appointed by Haslam to oversee the program. He told board members that 22,800 students have registered.

The free tuition offer is part of Haslam’s “Drive to 55” plan to improve the state’s graduation rates from the current 32 percent to 55 percent by the year 2025 in order to help improve overall job qualifications and attract employers to Tennessee.

Under the program, students who choose to attend a four-year school after graduation will be able to do so as juniors.