1. The Short-Term Effects of the Kalamazoo Promise Scholarship on Student Outcomes Timothy J. Bartik and Marta Lachowska W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research October 11, 2013 Presentation at Lumina Foundation, Indianapolis, IN Presentation briefly summarizes full paper, available at http://research.upjohn.org/up_workingpapers/186/ Paper is forthcoming in Research in Labor Economics

2. Main Findings The Kalamazoo Promise college scholarship program significantly improves high school students’ behavior, based on comparing changes for eligible vs. ineligible students, before and after the Promise’s announcement. Among African-American high school students, the Promise also significantly improves GPA. Policy implication: Promise-style programs can improve K-12 academics. These high school comparisons of eligible vs. ineligible students do not reflect possible Promise benefits for school climate or post-secondary success.

3. Our research approach Exploited aspect of KP that is natural experiment. In Nov. 2005, some KPS high school students discovered they were eligible for KP, others ineligible, based on prior enrollment decisions. Use individual HS student data on eligible/ineligible students, from 2 yrs. before (2003-04) to 2 yrs. after (2007-08) KP announcement. Do behavior/academics show post-announcement trends for eligible vs. ineligible students that differ from pre-announcement trends? Dependent variables: days suspended, GPA, etc. Controls: year, grade, student fixed effects, student socioeconomics. Eligible/ineligible differentials do not reflect overall school climate.

4. KP effects on annual days in suspension, all students

5. KP effects on GPA, all students

6. KP effects on annual days in suspension, African-American students

7. KP effects on GPA, African-American students

8. Summary Strong evidence that generous & broad eligibility Promise programs can improve the behavior of high school students, and GPA for at least some groups. Extension is to look at how this natural experiment affects post-secondary outcomes. Other extensions: look at WHY these effects occur. Other techniques needed to incorporate spillover/school climate effects on student outcomes, which could increase benefits.