Detroit Promise Place-based, last-dollar scholarship, first proposed by Governor Snyder in 2011 Two Broad Goals: Retain and attract residents by offering an increased value proposition to living in Detroit Increase education attainment and economic opportunity for Detroiters

Overview Began offering a guaranteed, tuition-free path to an associates degree for Detroit residents/high school graduates, in 2013 No academic requirement Open to students in all Detroit high schools, regardless of governance Students can attend any of five metro community colleges, with the Promise covering the increased cost of non-resident tuition, if needed

Outreach Four full-time staff coordinating outreach to high school students and follow-up service to those who are in college Staff make multiple visits to every high school to explain the program and enroll students Once enrolled, students receive on-going communication via text, social media and e- mail Consistently registering around 75% of eligible high school seniors in Detroit

Community College Funding Model

C.C. Enrollment / Success Averaging just over 500 new students/year for the first four years Persistence/graduation rates for our c.c. students are at the national average for low- income, first generation students, which are very low Existing student supports haven’t been effective in improving graduation/persistence rates

Detroit Promise Path Partnership with MDRC to replicate successful community college student support model in the CUNY system Program Components “Intrusive” Coaching around specific protocols Student incentives Group sessions with coaches Connections to campus resources

Four-Year University Program Built out from a smaller existing Chamber run scholarship Launched two cohort pilot this year Academic requirement of 3.0 GPA and ACT score of 21 Most public and several private universities participating 263 students enrolled this fall

Four-Year Funding Model

Enrollment

Detroit Promise Funding Annual budget is currently $2.7 million Expect a maximum annual budget of approximately $5 million assuming four cohorts of four-year students Funding sources: Michigan Education Excellence Foundation Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan Van Dusen Endowments Promise Zone – Tax Incremental Financing (available 2019)

Celebration / Orientation

Priorities / Next Steps Transition four-year pilot into permanent program Increased marketing Create a tuition-free transfer pathway between community college and four-year universities Coordinate the Detroit Promise more fully with other youth/educational initiatives in the City

Program Strengths Extremely cost effective compared to other Promise programs Pathway to sustainability through Detroit Promise Zone tax capture Detroit is the largest city in the country to guarantee all high school graduates a tuition-free path through college