The Kalamazoo Promise Building Assets for Community Change

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The Kalamazoo PromiseBuilding Assets for
Community Change

• Dr. Michelle Miller-Adams
• Visiting Scholar, W.E. Upjohn Institute
• Assistant Professor, Grand Valley State
  University
• January 2008

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The Kalamazoo PromiseMore than a scholarship
program

• An economic development initiative with a
  scholarship program as its centerpiece.
• ? Place-based ? Generous
• ? Universal ? Flexible
• Economic Development Educational Attainment

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Conceptual frameworkA multi-dimensional asset
building strategy

• An initiative that has the potential for the
  creation and enhancement of economic, human, and
  social capital in the Kalamazoo region.
• Catalyst unlimited scholarship funds over a
  long-term period.
• Creates new incentives for action by a broad
  range of individuals and organizations.
• These actions may lead to a broad array of
  outcomes, some intended and others not.

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Potential Outcomes Human Capital

• Reduced high school dropout rate and increased
  graduation rate
• Narrowing of college attendance gap by income
  race
• Increased college attendance completion rate
• Narrowing of K-12 achievement gap because of
  greater socioeconomic school integration
• Creation of better-educated local workforce
• Key Challenge
• Ensuring that all students can take advantage of
  the Kalamazoo Promise

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Potential OutcomesEconomic Assets

• New financial resources for school district
• Freed-up savings for families
• Stronger housing market rising property values
• New housing construction business investment
• Retention/attraction of middle-class leads to
  more income diversity in neighborhoods and
  schools
• Expanding population leads to higher tax revenues
  more vibrant core city
• Key Challenges
• Overcoming stagnant regional state economy
  Creating/attracting jobs

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Potential OutcomesSocial Capital

• Community morale - winning the pennant
• Mobilization around goals of the Kalamazoo
  Promise
• Increased volunteer activity in schools and
  student support organizations
• New bridging initiatives
• New philanthropic resources
• Greater social cohesion due to better-educated
  residents
• Key Challenges
• Coordinating and paying for needed support
  services
• Aligning multiple efforts in support of a common
  goal

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Potential Risks

• New construction and business investment occur
  outside the urban core
• Further strain on city finances
• Family savings deterred
• Increased conflict with neighboring school
  districts and municipalities
• Greater mobility for high-school graduates,
  leading to out-migration of young people
• In-migration of educated workers, leading to
  greater competition for jobs
• Gentrification (displacement of low-income
  families)

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Initial Impact on School District

• Enrollment increase of 10 in 2006, reversing
  35-year decline increase of 2.3 in 2007
• Enrollment growth strongest in mixed-income
  schools
• State funding increases (7.5 million for
  2006-07)
• Students from 32 states, about half from outside
  county divided between black and white
• First increase in white enrollment since the
  1980s
• Bond issue to fund first new school buildings in
  35 years
• Strong teacher recruiting pool in 2006
• 2,000 applicants for 90 positions

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Initial Impact on KPS Students

• 2006 2007 change
• KPS Graduates 515 567 10.1
• Eligible for Promise 417 481 15.4
• Applied for Promise 373 461 23.6
• Used Promise 303 359 18.5
• Eligible Using Promise 73 75 ---
• Includes students using the Promise during the
  first Fall semester following graduation.
• 3.2 million had been spent on scholarships as of
  January 2008.
• The top college choices for classes of 2006 and
  2007 combined were KVCC (44), WMU (27), MSU
  (12), U-M (7)

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Initial Impact on Local Economy

• In 2006
• 70 of KP-funded students (60 of scholarship
  dollars) remained in Kalamazoo.
• Number of homes sold rose 6.7 within KPS over
  2005, compared to decline of -5.2 for the region
  overall.
• Sales fell by 10 outside the KPS district
• Median home price rose 3.6 within KPS over 2005,
  compared to decline of -1.4 for the region.
• 108,750 in KPS, 135,000 for region
• Real estate market flat or slightly down in 2007.

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National Impact

• Media coverage
• Replication
• In Michigan Jackson, Flint, Northport, Muskegon,
  Holland/Zeeland, Newaygo County, Promise Zones
• Other states Arkansas, California, Colorado,
  Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio,
  Pennsylvania, Texas
• Why?
• Idea that economic development and educational
  attainment are not competing priorities but can
  (must?) go hand in hand.
• PromiseNet Conference, June 25-27, 2008
• see announcement on Upjohn Institute web site

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Organizational Challenges

• Donor anonymity
• Whos in charge?
• Vested interests, multiple efforts
• Who is at the table?
• Understanding the concept
• Whats the link between education and economic
  vitality?
• Understanding the regional impact
• Whats in it for me?

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For additional informationKalamazoo Promise
Research Web Sitehttp//www.upjohninstitute.org/
Comments, questions, or suggestions Michelle
Miller-Adams269-385-0436Miller-Adams_at_upjohninsti
tute.org