1. The Kalamazoo Promise Building Assets for Community Change Dr. Michelle Miller-Adams Visiting Scholar, W.E. Upjohn Institute Assistant Professor, Grand Valley State University Presentation to the Rotary Club October 26, 2009

2. Organizing Framework: Four Strategic Priorities

4. The Kalamazoo Promise: Initial Impact on School District Dramatic increase in enrollment  17.6% increase since 2005  Runs counter to state and local trends  Low-income population has risen (62% to 67%) First new schools built in 37 years Redistricting & socioeconomic balance Cultural shift in KPS  71% increase in Advanced Placement enrollment

5. The Kalamazoo Promise: Initial Impact on Students Scholarship usage  1,531 students have received scholarships  1,103 are currently enrolled  $10.5 million spent as of September 2009 Ninety percent of recipients attend four schools:  Kalamazoo Valley Community College (38%)  Western Michigan University (29%)  Michigan State University (13%)  University of Michigan (10%) Persistence rates as of 9/09  Class of 2006: 83% university, 26% community college  Class of 2007: 84% university, 34% community college  Class of 2008: 84% university, 50% community college

6. 2006200720082009 KPS Graduates517579549515 Eligible for Promise409502475455 % of graduates eligible79% 87% 87%88% Used Promise 1 st semester303359370370 post-graduation % eligible who used Promise73%75%78%81% 1 st semester post-graduation Have Used Promise 339414388370 % eligible who have used83%83% 82%81% Promise at any time

7. The Kalamazoo Promise: Usage by Race 2006200720082009 % eligible h.s. graduates who have used Promise 83% 82%81% % of eligible African- Americans who have used Promise 81%79%81%n.a. % of eligible Caucasians who have used Promise 86%85%83%n.a.

8. Expansion of tutoring/mentoring programs  Hours of service provided to students through KCIS almost tripled between 2005 and 2009.  Number of youth served by Big Brothers Big Sisters rose by 77% between 2005 and 2008. New partnerships among youth-serving groups  Boys and Girls Club / Douglass Community Association More open discussion of racial & economic inequality & its consequences The Kalamazoo Promise: Initial Impact on Social Capital

9. The Kalamazoo Promise: 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

10. 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 Emergence of community of researchers PromiseNet  Annual conference of communities developing Promise-type programs – Kalamazoo in June 2010 The Kalamazoo Promise: National Impact

11. The Bottom Line Universal coverage = tool for community transformation Scholarship money alone does not lead to cultural, economic, or social transformation Community engagement and alignment are essential

12. 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 career development, internships, business-school partnerships  Strengthen alignment around broad goals of the Kalamazoo Promise Communicate, coordinate, cooperate, collaborate

13. A catalyst for community transformation

14. For additional information: Kalamazoo Promise Research Web Site http://www.upjohninstitute.org/ Comments, questions, or suggestions: Michelle Miller-Adams 269-385-0436 Miller-Adams@upjohninstitute.org http://www.michellemilleradams.com http://www.upjohninstitute.org/ Miller-Adams@upjohninstitute.org http://www.michellemilleradams.com