Free college tuition spurs public school growth in Michigan

The Regional Chamber proposes a similar plan for Mahoning Valley schools.
By DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
Kalamazoo, Mich., ended a 17-year decline in public school enrollment after creating a program that provides free college tuition to graduates.
The Kalamazoo Promise, as the program is called, is being used as a model by the Youngstown-based Regional Chamber, which wants to provide free college or vocational training for all graduates of Mahoning Valley high schools.
"Everyone is excited," said Bob Jorth, executive administrator of the Kalamazoo program. "The morale of the school system is ecstatic."
The public schools have added 1,000 pupils, a 10 percent increase, since the Kalamazoo Promise was enacted 18 months ago, he said.
People have moved into the district from 88 other Michigan communities and 32 states, he said.
The Kalamazoo Promise was created and funded by a small group of anonymous donors. They wanted to improve the town by upgrading the skills of young people.
"That's the gamble the donors have taken: If we create a skilled work force, we will create jobs along with that," Jorth said.
He provided these positive effects Kalamazoo has experienced:
Real estate values and sales were up about 8 percent last year.
The drop-out rate for this year's senior class is expected to be down 10 percent to 20 percent.
About 400 new families have moved into the district since the program started, and a survey indicated that just over half of the parents said their decision was based at least in part on the free tuition.
Voters last year passed a bond issue to fund the district's first new schools in 35 years, an elementary school that will replace an older school and an additional middle school.
The school district has about 100,000 residents, while the city has 70,000 residents.
Last year's graduating class -- the first to take part in the program -- had 500 students, and 400 of them were eligible to participate based on how long they had lived in the district.
Here's the offer
About 340 pupils received tuition payments, with about 60 percent of them receiving full tuition. Pupils receive full tuition if they have lived in the district throughout their school years, while others receive pro-rated tuition.
Twenty-five of last year's seniors chose private or out-of-state colleges so could not participate.
The program covers tuition for up to four years at any public college or community college in Michigan, including vocational training programs.
The first year of the program cost about 2 million, although it's expected to cost 10 million to 12 million annually in later years, Jorth said.
In this area, the Regional Chamber is proposing to fund its program with savings from consolidating school districts and perhaps a tax levy. The plan, which is still being developed, would provide free tuition to any college or vocational program located in the Valley.