The Kalamazoo Promise Progress and Challenges

1. The Kalamazoo PromiseProgress and Challenges Dr. Michelle Miller-Adams Visiting Scholar, W.E. Upjohn Institute Assistant Professor, Grand Valley State University WEB Neighborhood Association October 2009

2. 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

3. Organizing Framework: Four Strategic Priorities Economic Development Student Support Urban Vitality Pre K-16 Education

4. 17.6% enrollment increase since 2005 • Runs counter to state and local trends

5. Impact on KPS • Dramatic increase in enrollment • Low-income population has increased from 62% to 67% • Parkwood-Upjohn 54% • Winchell 34% • Woods Lake 85% • Maple Street M.S. 72% • Building of two new schools (1st in 37 years) • Redistricting & its impact on socioeconomic balance • Cultural shift in KPS • 71% increase in AP enrollment over 2 years

6. 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

7. 2006200720082009 KPS Graduates 517 579 549 515 Eligible for Promise 409 502 475 455 • % of graduates eligible 79% 87% 87% 88% Used Promise 1st semester 303 359 370 370 post-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

8. Impact on Student Support • 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 • New partnerships among youth-serving groups • Boys and Girls Club / Douglass Community Association

9. 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. National Impact • 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

11. 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

12. For additional information:Kalamazoo Promise Research Web Sitehttp://www.upjohninstitute.org/Comments, questions, or suggestions: Michelle Miller-Adams269-385-0436Miller-Adams@upjohninstitute.orghttp://www.michellemilleradams.com