The Kalamazoo Promise Progress and Challenges Dr. Michelle Miller-Adams Visiting Scholar, W.E. Upjohn Institute Assistant Professor, Grand Valley State University Hadassah General Meeting November 2009

The Kalamazoo Promise: More than a scholarship program An economic development initiative with a scholarship program as its centerpiece. ● Place-based and universal ● Simple, flexible, and generous Economic Development + Educational Attainment

Organizing Framework: Four Strategic Priorities

17.6% enrollment increase since 2005 Runs counter to state and local trends

Impact on KPS Dramatic increase in enrollment Low-income population has increased from 62% to 67% Gap in low-income population across schools  Washington Writers Academy, Edison Elementary – 95%  Indian Prairie, Winchell Elementary – 32-34% First new schools built in 37 years Redistricting & its impact on socioeconomic balance Cultural shift in KPS  71% increase in AP enrollment over 2 years  148% increase among low-income students

Impact on Students Scholarship usage  1,531 students have received scholarships  1,103 currently enrolled  $10.5 million spent as of 9/09 Ninety percent of recipients attend four schools:  KVCC 38%  WMU29%  MSU 13%  U of M 10% Persistence rates as of 9/09  Class of ‘06: 83% university, 26% community college  Class of ‘07: 84% university, 34% community college  Class of ‘08: 84% university, 50% community college

KPS Graduates Eligible for Promise % of graduates eligible79% 87% 87%88% Used Promise 1 st semester post-graduation % eligible who used Promise73%75%78%81% 1 st semester post-graduation Have Used Promise % eligible who have used83%83% 82%81% Promise at any time

Expansion of tutoring/mentoring programs  Hours of service provided to students through KCIS almost tripled (to 61,000) between 2005 and  Number of youth served by Big Brothers Big Sisters rose by 77% between 2005 and New programs at KVCC and WMU  Student Success Center New partnerships among youth-serving groups  Adoption / coordination of new preschool curriculum  Boys and Girls Club / Douglass Community Association  Training in best practices for tutors & mentors Impact on Student Support

Initial Economic Impact 67% of scholarship recipients attend college locally New residents attracted from outside of region Alignment of economic development organizations, businesses, and non-profits around vision of an “Education Community” Job-creation announcements, quality-of-life awards cite education, including the Kalamazoo Promise

Continued interest in replication  El Dorado Promise, Pittsburgh Promise, San Francisco Promise Promise Zones – Michigan as a national leader  Public-private partnerships to provide universal, place- based scholarships in ten Michigan communities PromiseNet  Annual conference of communities developing Promise-type programs – Kalamazoo in June 2010 National Impact

Critical Challenges  Ensure that every student is “college-ready” -- and ready for success in college  Invest in pre-K education  Enlist / engage parents  Create career paths that strengthen local economy Internship programs, business-school partnerships  Strengthen community alignment around broad goals of the Kalamazoo Promise

For additional information: Kalamazoo Promise Research Web Site Comments, questions, or suggestions: Michelle Miller-Adams