Kalamazoo Promise

Kalamazoo Public Schools website is indeed the most reliable source for information about the program. They maintain a web page with all the latest information about the program. Keep checking this site for updates.

Offers from Michigan Universities to KPS Graduates 

Kalamazoo Promise underwrites only the cost of tuition and other fees. Even with Kalamazoo Promise, there are parents who cannot afford to send their kids to college because of other costs involved, such as room and board. Hence, several Michigan universities have announced programs of their own to assist KPS graduates with other expenses. Here is a list of offers made by the universities:

WMU Outlines its Kalamazoo Promise Offer

Western Michigan University was one of the first to announce incentives for KPS graduates. But there was some confusion and controversy about their program. So here is a clear statement from WMU about what they are offering KPS graduates.

Wayne State University supports the 'Kalamazoo Promise'

Wayne State University was the first to come forward with a plan to attract KPS students with a 50% reduction in room costs to KPS graduates.

 

News Reports from Michigan and around the nation

Detroit News report on the first graduates eligible for Kalamazoo Promise

Detroit News reports about the first batch of students eligible for Kalamazoo Promise. They also point out how the housing market here has perked up and inquiries about real estate in the city have been steady. And for the first time in at least a decade, enrollment is up in Kalamazoo Public Schools.

 

CNN's report on Kalamazoo Promise

(June 2006) CNN report about the first beneficiaries of the Kalamazoo public school district's pioneering free tuition program, 'Kalamazoo Promise'.

 

About 40% of graduating seniors have applied for scholarship

(May 2006) According to the Administrator of Kalamazoo Promise, 300 seniors out of the 500 graduating seniors have applied for Kalamazoo Promise scholarship to attend college next year. Of these 110 have chosen to go to WMU where they receive free board and room this year.

Minority students take advantage of Kalamazoo Promise

(May 2006) About 45 percent of students who applied this year for Kalamazoo Promise scholarship to attend college are minority students. That is good news. This debunks the theory that minority students will not show interest in college even if it is free.

Dr. James Bosco takes over as Institutional coordinator of Kalamazoo Promise

Dr. James Bosco, who retired from WMU in 2004 as professor of educational studies and director of external technology affairs for the College of Education, has agreed to an initial two-year term as institutional coordinator. Ronika Hamilton, a finance specialist with the WMU Division of Multicultural Affairs, will assist Bosco, and other staff members in WMU's Office of the Provost will help as needed.

Making a case of a 'South Bend Promise'

(03/06/06) An opinion column in South Bend Tribune makes a case for a program similar to Kalamazoo Promise.

 

Kalamazoo Promise has an Executive Administrator

(03/04/06) Robert Jorth has been appointed the Executive Administrator of Kalamazoo Promise and he will start on his new job from March 5, 2006. Among his responsibilities are determining the scholarship eligibility of the 500 or so students graduating from KPS this spring, and developing a system for paying the scholarship funds

 

Kalamazoo Promise puts heat on seniors

(03/06/06) Trips to various universities in the State and on-site registrations are being organized to make it easy for KPS seniors to select their college for next year. As graduation approaches, counselors and administrators at Kalamazoo Central and Loy Norrix high schools are scrambling to get seniors set for college.

 

Kalamazoo residents will vote on bond issue

( 02/23/06) The Kalamazoo Promise means residents in that community may be paying higher taxes. Since the Promise was announced in November, enrollment has boomed in Kalamazoo. Thursday night, the Kalamazoo Public School Board voted unanimously to ask voters to approve a renewal and an $85.5 million bond proposal. If it passes, the money will be used to improve old buildings and increase capacity, which leaders say is needed now more than ever.

The public perceptions on Kalamazoo Public Schools improve

(02/23/06) According to a recent survey conducted by Perspective Consulting Group of Paw Paw of 400 Kalamazoo Public Schools parents, the perceptions of the school district have improved compared to findings of a similar survey in 2003.

 

Kalamazoo Promise inspires the city of Newton, Iowa

(02/23/06) The city officials of Newton, Iowa put forth a proposal to underwrite college tution for its high school graduates and the residents are very happy about the plan. But the residents want the scholarship to benefit all high school graduates including those from private schools. This is a reasonable demand since the proposal was to pay for the scholarship with tax dollars.

 

Mayor of Hammond, Indiana plans to follow the example of Kalamazoo

(02/20/06) The mayor of Hammond, Thomas McDermott heard about Kalamazoo Promise in fall. He was intrigued. Now he is planning a similar program in Hammond to revitalize the city.

 

More building activity in Kalamazoo School district may have its good and bad

(02/18/06) Big time builders like Allen Edwin Homes of Portage and Hometowne Building Co. are expected to launch several building projects in the Kalamazoo School district area. Many are excited about this building boom but there are also those who point out the unwelcome consequences of this boom.

A Glympse of the future for KPS

(02/16/06) KPS signed up 277 future kindergartners during two daytime sessions Wednesday, up from 193 who enrolled during last year's daytime orientation, school officials said. This is an encouraging sign for a school district that is used to decreasing enrollment each year.

 

Plenty of volunteer support for Kalamazoo Promise

On Monday February 9, about 150 people gathered at the Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites to begin developing a master plan of community support services for students at Kalamazoo Public Schools.

 

Kalamazoo School District considers millage increase to improve its schools

This month the Kalamazoo Public Schools Board of Education will decide whether to ask school district voters for a property tax increase to build new schools, upgrade technology, improve other school buildings and pay for building maintenance. Make sense. You need good schools that will produce college eligible graduates before they can benefit from Kalamazoo Promise. And this may be the perfect time to ask the residents to approve any tax increase.

 

Mayor McKinney's State of the City Address highlights Kalamazoo Promise

Kalamazoo Promise fits into that goal of providing resources and opportunities for our youth, According to the New Mayor. She exhorted the city residents to continue to cultivate partnerships with the education community so that our children fully realize the potential of the Promise.

Kalamazoo Promise inspires the city of Newton, Iowa

The residents of Newton, Iowa are considering to support a project titled the Newton Promise, a program that would use tax money and donations to pay for college tuition for Newton High School graduates as soon as 2007. The town is looking to change its image and future by copying a program begun in November in Kalamazoo that has generated national attention, as well as scores of calls from families interested in moving to town.

Washington Times on Kalamazoo Promise

From the time the Kalamazoo Promise was announced in November to Jan. 3, the 10,400-student school district reported an increase of 51 students, compared with a decrease of 104 in the same period the previous year. Above all, there are fewer dropouts this year because they have an incentive to stay.

 

Governor Granholm calls the State to follow the Kalamazoo Promise example

( 26 Jan 06) In her State of the State address, Governor Jennifer Granholm told the legislature " As we celebrate the Kalamazoo Promise, let's change that dynamic in every community in Michigan . A promise that every child in Michigan will - for the first time in this state's history - have the financial means to go to college. And, therefore, a promise to anyone who wants to build a business and grow jobs that Michigan will have the nation's most highly educated workforce."

 

Increasing enrollment in KPS as a result of Kalamazoo Promise

(25 Jan 05) More than 200 students have enrolled in Kalamazoo public schools as a direct result of the Kalamazoo Promise college scholarship program, according to an update by district superintendent Janice Brown.

 

Home Builders start new constructions in Kalamazoo

(16 Jan 06) - Allen Edwin Builders based in Portage hav recently purchased land in Kalamazoo School District worth 7 million dollars that they plan to develop and build new homes. The company expectsa growing demand for homes in Kalamazoo because of the Kalamazoo Promise. This represents a major shift for the developer. Until now, the company has based its neighborhood building projects in Portage, Texas Township, Richland and Mattawan.

 

Detroit News reports on potential impact of Kalamazoo Promise

(Dec 17, 05) According to this report, Kalamazoo Promise is expected to attract more businesses, jobs and commerce to greater Kalamazoo, and raise property values in the district. School officials expect more students and, with that, a need for more schools and teachers.

 

Channel 3 (WMMT) reports a surge in KPS admissions

It has been a month since Kalamazoo Promise was announced. As expected, KPS officials find a surge in admissions to KPS and some applications are from out of state. (Dec 5, 2005)

 

WOOD-TV Kalamazoo Promise forum

You get all sorts of reactions from people on this site. You can add your own.

M-Live's Special Report on Kalamazoo Promise

M-Live has a series of reports on Kalamazoo Promise that discuss economic development, housing costs, KPS enrollment increase, etc.

How will Kalamazoo Promise affect neighboring school districts?

MSNBC and WOOD_TV reports on the potential impact of Kalamazoo Promise on neighboring schools districts such as Portage and Mattawan.

Hispanic Americans and Kalamazoo Promise

This article discusses the initiatives by Hispanic American Council in Kalamazoo to assure that Hispanic students will benefit from the Kalamazoo Promise.

Kalamazoo 's African-American community leaders unveil a campaign rally

A rally on Saturday at Galilee Baptist Church will unveil a campaign by local minority leaders to improve the chances that minority children and their families get the mentoring, tutoring and other assistance they need. Their goal is to improve students' academic achievement in high school, get them to set their sights on college, wade through the thicket of the college application process and then make certain minority students who are accepted into college don't wash out because they were ill-prepared.

Getting ready to evaluate the impact of Kalamazoo Promise on regional economy

Researchers from a variety of disciplines, including sociology, economics, political science and education. will keep a close eye on how the scholarship program's unique nature -- private funding by anonymous donors; scholarships for all regardless of income level or grades and the potential to lure more middle-class families to an urban school district and employers to the region. Expected outcoimes are increase in student enrollment and increase in real estate prices.

Keeping the dream alive - Kalamazoo promise will help

Kalamazoo leaders express the hope that The Kalamazoo Promise, a scholarship program that offers free college tuition to Kalamazoo Public Schools graduates, can help break down walls of discrimination.

Toyota impressed by Kalamazoo

Toyota Motor Corp. seem impressed by the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek area'' as they evaluate potential sites for a new engine plant according to U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow. Toyota executives are impressed by the Kalamazoo area's skilled work force, the quality of life and the presence of Western Michigan University . According to Stabenow, Kalamazoo Promise is a huge selling point'' for recruiting business.

Kalamazoo's Mayor wants Kalamazoo Promise to benefit all residents

According to Kalamazoo Mayor Hannah McKinney, Kalamazoo's biggest challenge in implementing The Promise is ensuring that people in poverty are not left behind. She argues that our attention should not be totally on economic growth dependent on attracting highly-educated and creative professionals who value the arts, outdoor recreation and cultural diversity. We should not leave behind the 25% of the Kalamazoo population that are below the poverty line and work to make Kalamazoo Promise benefit them.