the kalamazoo promise progress and challenges dr. michelle miller-adams visiting scholar, w.e....
TRANSCRIPT
The Kalamazoo PromiseProgress and Challenges
Dr. Michelle Miller-AdamsVisiting Scholar, W.E. Upjohn InstituteAssistant Professor, Grand Valley State University
Hadassah General MeetingNovember 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
25-year KPS enrollment trend
9000
10000
11000
12000
13000
14000
15000
Fall Headcount
Aca
dem
ic Y
ear
Kalamazoo Promise Announced
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% WMU 29% 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
2006 20072008 2009
KPS Graduates 517 579 549 515Eligible for Promise 409 502 475 455 % of graduates eligible 79% 87% 87% 88%
Used Promise 1st semester 303 359 370 370post-graduation % eligible who used Promise 73% 75% 78% 81%
1st semester post-graduation
Have Used Promise 339 414 388 370 % eligible who have used 83% 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 2009. Number of youth served by Big Brothers Big Sisters rose by 77%
between 2005 and 2008.
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 educationEnlist / engage parentsCreate 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
http://www.upjohninstitute.org/
Comments, questions, or suggestions: Michelle Miller-Adams
http://www.michellemilleradams.com