BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Members on the State Board of Education on Wednesday unanimously approved a key part of a proposed tuition-lock pilot program backed by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter.

However, the board won't vote on adopting the full proposal until June. Board spokesman Blake Youde says the board only voted on Idaho State University's tuition rates that will be used in the program. The board still needs to approve the overall program criteria. The proposed program will keep tuition for incoming ISU freshman the same throughout four years of college.

A similar statewide measure failed in the Legislature this year. Meanwhile, the board also approved tuition increases four all five of the state's colleges and universities. The increases hovered between 2 and 3 percent. Youde said increases remain low this year because the Legislature provided an 8 percent increase in higher education funding.

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