Kalamazoo Promise - free college tuition

Great Debates
1

Wealthy benefactors have funded a program that will give scholarships to grads of the Kalamazoo Public Schools. They must have attended for all 4 years and would receive 100% if they attended since Kindergarten. There is a graduated scale that goes down to 65% if they only attended grades 9-12 there. Begins in 2006. Must attend a Michigan college and keep up a certain grade level.

Here are the details:

http://www.kalamazoopublicschools.com/education/dept/dept.php?sectiondetailid=10657&sc_id=1131662979

Apart from the fantastic opportunity that some kids have, other likely results mentioned in news reports:

  1. Parents can now spend college savings elsewhere, presumably boosting the local economy.

  2. People will move into the district and businesses will grow in the area.

  3. Graduates will come back to Kalamzoo.

2

Sorry … I hit enter to quickly without suggesting areas of debate:

Can it be funded?

How will it affect other local school systems?

Will benefactors in other school systems jump on the bandwagon?

What other unintended consequences do you see?

3

Quick clarification …

Covers tuition and fees only. Doesn’t cover room and board.

Also here’s a link to the Kalamzoo Public Schools website:

http://www.kalamazoopublicschools.com/education/district/district.php?sectionid=1