Ellen Cogen-Lipton served as a Michigan State Representative for six years, where she led  the fight against efforts to privatize public schools in Michigan. As a legislator, she served on several  important committees, including Education and Appropriations for K-12 Schools, and earned praise for  her legislative advocacy and work in overcoming funding inequities in public education. After leaving  Lansing, Ellen founded and was named President of the Michigan Promise Zone Association, which  supports free community college tuition, technical training and certification to Michigan students in  selected communities across Michigan, a blueprint for free college tuition across America. She is  currently the Co-Vice President of the Michigan Board of Education.