Community Transformation Through Place-Based Scholarships

Dr. Janice M. Brown, The Kalamazoo PromiseBrandy Johnson, Michigan College Access Network

Dr. Michelle Miller-Adams, W.E. Upjohn Institute

Presentation at College Board Forum 2010

Session outlineWelcome and introductionsThe Kalamazoo Promise and the place-based

scholarship model (Michelle)Leveraging the Kalamazoo Promise for community

transformation (Janice)Creating a college-going culture statewide: Promise

Zones and the Michigan College Access Network (Brandy)

Questions and discussion

The Kalamazoo Promise and theplace-based scholarship model

Announced 11/05, to continue in perpetuity

Funded by anonymous private donors

Place-based: Kalamazoo Public SchoolsCovers 65-100% of tuition and fees at all in-state, public post-

secondary institutions for KPS graduates

Universal: every graduate is eligibleMinimum 4-year residency & enrollmentBlending of educational and economic goals

Potential for community transformation

Scholarship program as catalyst

Changes incentives for a broad range of actorsTeachers, parents, business, residents, realtors, etc.

Leads to creation and/or enhancement of human, social, and economic capital for the city and region

A financial investment that creates new assets for individuals and the community.

Initial Impact – Enrollment & ResourcesReversal of long-term enrollment decline

20% enrollment growth since 2005Enrollment increase the result of:

Increased entry rates Decreased exit rates

Stabilization of ethnic/racial distributionLow-income population has risen: 62% to 70%

Increased resources for school districtPer-pupil funding structureSupport for bond issuesOpening of new schools (first in 4 decades)

25-Year KPS Enrollment Trend

Initial Impact – College-Going CultureEmphasis on college readiness (K-12)

Expanded reading and writing blocksMiddle-school college awareness programmingChanges in middle-and high-school scheduling

Increased Advanced Placement enrollment# of students enrolled: +71%

Economically disadvantaged : +148% African-American : +166% Hispanic : +400%

Three years of rising test scores

Improved community perceptions

Initial Impact - Scholarship UseTo date:

1,900 students received scholarships (81% of those eligible)1,200 are currently enrolled$21.5 million spent

Almost 9 out of 10 recipients attend four schools: Kalamazoo Valley Community College (31%)Western Michigan University (32%)Michigan State University (13%) University of Michigan (11%)

Persistence rates as of fall 2009Class of 2006: 81% university, 24% community collegeClass of 2007: 84% university, 34% community collegeClass of 2008: 84% university, 50% community college

Leveraging the Kalamazoo PromiseCommunity Engagement and Accountability

Our Collective Vision: Our Vision is that Greater Kalamazoo will become a national-class center of learning, youth development

and quality of life.

The Kalamazoo Learning Network-membershipCommunity Transformation

Leverage the Promise Lift up Literacy Change the Culture Engage the Community Go

Regional Get Results (learning, economic, quality of life)

Strategic Priorities for Kalamazoo

Statewide Strategies for Creating a College-going Culture LOCALLY

1) Replicating the Kalamazoo Promise statewide: Promise Zones

2) Building networks for college readiness: MCAN and Local College Access Networks (LCANs)

Statewide Strategies for Creating a College-going Culture LOCALLY

3) Strengthening college access/success initiatives within Promise Zones and LCANs:

a) MichiganCAP: One-stop-shop web portalb) KnowHow2GO Michigan: Public awareness

campaignc) Michigan College Advising Corpsd) Achieving the Dream: Community College

Success

Michigan Promise Zones

Inspired by the Kalamazoo PromisePassed by the MI Legislature in January 2009Public-private partnerships – Community-based

fundraising + public tax capture in communities that meet or exceed the state's average poverty level

Must include at least last-dollar funding for an associate's degree

Place-based & UniversalPromise Zones: Baldwin, Battle Creek, Benton Harbor,

Detroit, Hazel Park, Jackson, Lansing, Muskegon, Pontiac, and Saginaw

College Access Strategies

Promise Zones help prepare students for college financially.

How can we ensure that students who receive Promise scholarships are also prepared…SociallyAcademicallyInformationally/Logistically

Michigan’s response: MCAN & Local College Access Networks (LCANs)

Michigan College Access Network (MCAN)

Statewide college access coordinating bodyIncubated in Governor’s Office with support from College

Access Challenge Grant and strong steering committeeNow a statewide nonprofit with additional support from

MDE and the Kresge Foundation

Mission: Dramatically increase the college participation and completion rates in Michigan, particularly among l0w-income and first-generation students of all ages

Vision: Build/sustain strong communities and a vibrant economy based on a highly-educated population.

Goal: increase of 60% by 2025

Local College Access Networks (LCANs)

High-quality, community-based college access coordinating body

Supported by a team of community and education leaders representing K-12, higher education, nonprofit sector, government, business, and philanthropy

Commit to:Develop a strategic plan to leverage current and new

assets in order to ensure every student is socially, academically, and informationally prepared to pursue postsecondary education

Build a college-going culture within community using a common “brand”

Integrate statewide college access strategies into community programming

MCAN support for LCANs

Funding

Technical Assistance

Coordination

Leadership/Advocacy

Professional Development

Implement MichiganCAP and KnowHow2GO

Strengthen partner initiatives within LCANs

Michigan College Access Portal

Announced in April 2009 by Governor Granholm

One-stop web site for students to plan, apply, and pay for college

Also will serve as a comprehensive tool for families, counselors, educators and others who are helping Michigan students prepare for college

MichiganCAP went live in September:http://www.michigancap.org

KnowHow2GO

Public awareness campaign sponsored by the Lumina Foundation, the Ad Council, and ACE.

Designed to encourage low-income students and their families to take the necessary steps toward college

PSAs urge young people to find someone who can help them get to college and direct students and their mentors to a website and other resources.

Four steps: 1) Be a pain. 2) Push yourself. 3) Find the right fit. 4)Put your hands on some cash.

MCAN’s Partner Initiatives

Strengthen LCANs by targeting other resources:

Michigan Campus CompactGEAR UP

Michigan College Advising CorpsCollege Goal SundayAchieving the Dream

For additional information:

The Kalamazoo Promisehttps://www.kalamazoopromise.comResearch on the Kalamazoo Promise

http://www.upjohn.org/kalamazoopromise.htmlMichigan College Access Networkhttp://www.micollegeaccess.org/

Comments, questions, or suggestions:

Janice M. Brown, jbrown@kalamazoopromise.comBrandy Johnson, brandy@micollegeaccess.org

Michelle Miller-Adams, miller-adams@upjohn.org