A recent article in USA Today updated the status of the Kalamazoo(MI) Promise. Click on this link to go to the article. Wealthy anonymous benefactors in Kalamazoo provided the funding to send every graduate of the Kalamazoo Public Schools to College at State schools in Michigan. Quoting from the article:
"People cheered, hugged and wept at the November 2005 school board meeting when the superintendent announced a group of anonymous donors — hoping to energize an economically depressed city — had promised free college tuition to students who graduate from the local school district. ………
The excitement hasn't let up in this city, which had been reeling from a declining population as major employers like General Motors and the Upjohn Company, once a pharmaceutical giant, closed or moved out of town. ……… Within months of the Promise announcement, the community saw signs of a resurgence. It passed an $85 million bond issue to construct two schools, the first in decades. Over the next year, volunteering for schools shot up 134%, according to Kalamazoo Communities in Schools, a non-profit that coordinates such services. Mentors for Big Brothers Big Sisters nearly doubled.
Decatur and Kalamazoo are very similar in terms of size and economic trends. MCSV has always advocated a development of a "promise" for Decatur. Several other cities currently have similarly inspired programs including Peoria. Is it time for Decatur too? We know that Superintendent Davis is excited about the potential as are other leaders in Decatur. At one point, Publisher Todd Nelson suggested as a starting point that Decatur start an "everyone to college" office that would help students and parents understand the substantial grants and loans available for kids going to college. A large percentage of kids in Decatur Public Schools would qualify for a number of programs to help them today with college costs.
Tell us what you think.
ogjypvu oypmz zjusvdk fcrughynq pxqchdojg xpemf jqszw
Posted by: dtsi traj | March 31, 2009 at 02:29 AM