1. Can Universal, Place-Based Scholarships Reduce Inequality? Lessons from Kalamazoo, Michigan Dr. Michelle Miller-Adams Visiting Scholar, W.E. Upjohn Institute Assistant Professor, Grand Valley State University (Allendale, MI) April 23, 2010

3. What is the Kalamazoo Promise? Announced 11/05, to continue in perpetuity Funded by anonymous private donors Place-based: Kalamazoo Public Schools  Covers 65-100% of tuition and fees at state colleges & universities for KPS graduates Universal: every graduate is eligible  Minimum 4-year residency & enrollment Place-based, universal approach suggests blending of educational & economic goals

4. The first comprehensive account of the Kalamazoo Promise, based on three years of research. Published by the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, 2009.

5. Conceptual Framework Scholarship program as catalyst New incentives created  Teachers, parents, residents, realtors Potential increase in assets -- human, social, and economic -- for individuals and community IF – community is aligned. “49% of the work is the funding and 51% is community engagement and alignment (the hard part)!” Dr. Janice Brown, Kalamazoo Promise

6. Dimensions of inequality Between urban and suburban areas  poor & minority population concentrated in urban core School districts reflect this imbalance  low-income enrollment in KPS is 70%, in contiguous district it is 20% Within district  elementary schools range in low-income population from 35% to 99% Disparities reflected in MEAP scores, etc.

7. A tool for reducing inequality? Distinction between inequality of opportunities and inequality of outcomes Program works to equalize both through  Universal college access  Structural & cultural school change  Alignment of community resources

8. Equalizing opportunity: universal college access Elimination / simplification of financial barriers to college attendance Other barriers persist  K-12 achievement gap by income and race  Lack of college readiness Academic and social  Absence of role models / support  Cultural: sense that “college isn’t for me” Importance of defining college broadly

9. Kalamazoo Promise Scholarship Use In first four years of program  1,516 students received scholarships (81% of those eligible)  1,029 are currently enrolled  $17 million spent as of spring 2010 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 2009  Class of 2006: 81% university, 24% community college  Class of 2007: 84% university, 34% community college  Class of 2008: 84% university, 50% community college

10. Usage by Race 2006200720082009 % eligible graduates who have used Promise 83 8573 % of eligible African-American graduates who have used Promise 83818572 % of eligible Hispanic graduates who have used Promise (small-n) 71908266 % of eligible Caucasian graduates who have used Promise 8685 77 Usage of Kalamazoo Promise by race closely matches demographics of eligibility for the program.

11. Usage by Socioeconomic Status* 2006200720082009 % graduates w/ Free & Reduced Meal status 485059 % of KP-eligible students w/ Free & Reduced Meal Status 464958 % of students w/ Free & Reduced Meal status who have used Promise 43465660 Usage of Kalamazoo Promise by low-income students closely matches demographics of school district. * Free & Reduced meal status is underreported for all categories because only most recent five years of data is available.

12. Academic Performance in College Good news: Low-income students are using the Kalamazoo Promise at the same rate as middle- income students Bad news: more low-income students are struggling once in college.  KP users who qualified for Free & Reduced Meals while at KPS account for: 35% of students in good standing 70% of students on probation 67% of students whose scholarships have been suspended

13. Equalizing outcomes: cultural & structural change in the schools Cultural: efforts to ensure that every student is “college-ready”  Early literacy, curriculum review, testing  College readiness course, AP offerings, credit recovery, weighted grades  Career awareness & preparation Structural: socioeconomic integration of schools  Supported by enrollment increase & new school construction  Will it extend to elementary schools? Neighborhoods?

14. 16% enrollment growth since 2005 Ethnic/racial distribution has remained the same Low-income population has risen: 62% to 70%

15. Support for bond issue -> school construction New schools (first in 4 decades) -> redistricting Greater socioeconomic balance in secondary schools 2008-09Project ed 2009-10 Middle Schools - Hillside 526567 - Linden Grove n.a.7269 - Maple Street 7268 - Milwood 847179 High Schools - Central 535855 - Norrix 646065

16. Cultural Change Indicators College readiness course (10 th grade) “Promise Week” centered on middle school college awareness Weighted grades for AP courses Advanced Placement (AP) trends 2007-09  # of students enrolled: + 71% (526 students) Economically disadvantaged+ 148% (156) African-American + 166% (141) Hispanic + 400% (40)  Students taking course must now also take AP test # taking test is up; pass rate is down

17. Scholarship program alone does not lead to school improvement, cultural or economic change. But it can deepen community engagement and alignment around these goals. Strategic Priorities for Kalamazoo

18. 1 st -grade students at Parkwood-Upjohn Elementary School, future recipients of the Kalamazoo Promise