Why do we dream of a Lakeshore Promise?

Because we believe that access to continuing education is the way to keep our area workforce competitive in a global economy.

Michigan is in trouble. With one of the highest unemployment rates in the country we can't afford to do nothing.  In order to see effects in the next ten to fifteen years we must act now. 

At the beginning of the 20th Century, when industrialization was displacing farmers, rural States invested in education.  They knew that those who once dropped out of high school to work on farms would now need a high school diploma and different skills for the new automated workplace.  That is why they worked to make high school education universal and free.

Again, after World War II, when the U.S. economy was adjusting to a post war economy, the U.S. Government invested in education, passing the GI Bill.  In 1947 the GI Bill accounted for half of all college enrollments in the nation and propelled the U.S. to unprecedented economic growth and prosperity.

Today, economists are saying that an education beyond high school will be critical for 21st Century workers if we are to remain competitive and sustain economic growth.  We must, they say, produce twice as many college graduates and skilled workers.

That is why we advocate a program similar to the successful Kalamazoo Promise.  The visionaries who conceived of the Promise did so because they discovered a direct correlation between a highly educated work force and a vibrant economy.

Kalamazoo’s goal is our goal:  To ensure that our youth and future workforce will be among the most highly skilled in the nation, because this is what attracts the kind of industry which will ensure Michigan a promising future.

Those who oversee the Kalamazoo Promise understand that this is a long-term goal.  That it could will take a decade or more to see the full benefit of their investment. 

Yet there are clear short-term benefits.  Families who needed to set aside large sums for college education will have more disposable income to invest in their local communities. From restaurants, to retailers, to charities, the effect could be immediate.  But there are other benefits too.

According to Bob Jorth, executive director of the Kalamazoo Promsie, the Promise concept  "is an economic development initiative, masquerading as a scholarship program.”  In the first 14 months of the Promise, families from 88 Michigan communities and 32 states moved to the area and home values increased 7 percent.  School enrollment was up 10 percent the first year and morale among teachers and students high.  The community is becoming a magnate for families who value education and teachers who want to teach motivated students.  In that first year, Kalamazoo received 2,000 applications for 95 teaching positions of which 45 were new positions.  Housing starts are up and houses are selling well.  Another immediate and unexpected short term benefit – 300 new small businesses moved to Kalamazoo as well telecommuters and others who can work out of their homes in any location.

What is the Lakeshore Promise dream?

That every graduating senior in the Michigan Lakeshore Promise Communities (Filmore Township, Holland City, Holland Charter Twp, Laketown Twp, Olive Twp, Park Twp, Port Sheldon Twp, Zeeland City and Zeeland Twp.) would have the opportunity to attend either a college or skill training program and have up to 100% of their tuition paid.

Requirements

1. The family of each student must have been a resident of one of the Lakeshore communities that vote to join the Lakeshore Promise Authority (an Authority being what we must form in order to designate money for this specified use.) 100% tuition is covered if the family has been a resident for all 12 years during which their children attended an accredited area school - public, private, charter or home school. (This is broader than the Kalamazoo Promise that focuses only on the Kalamazoo city schools.) If fewer years as a resident, the percentage of tuition offered is pro-rated accordingly.

2. A student must graduate and be accepted by a Michigan college or university, public or private. This too is broader than the Kalamazoo Promise. And though we dream of full tuition to whichever school is chosen, for now there would be a cap of $10,000, the equivalent of tuition at the University of Michigan.

Worth Noting: Last year, prior to the Kalamazoo Promise, 265 students dropped out of high school. This year only 21 failed to graduate. Of the 400 graduating students 350 took advantage of the Promise tuition, with 150 of those students attending Junior Colleges.


How can we accomplish the dream?

In Kalamazoo, private donors with unlimited resources funded the dream. That is rare. And yet if a community believed that education was the way to revitalize the economy and ensure that the next generation had good paying jobs, couldn't they pool their resources and provide a similar, perhaps even wider opportunity?

We believe they could! There are currently 112,467 residents of the Lakeshore communities with approximately 39,920 households (based on the 2000 census.) The median income per household is $50,707.00.  With a combination of private funds, government incentives and a relatively small investment by all members of the community for the express purpose of funding the Lakeshore Promise, we could cover the anticipated cost of $5,000 per student, per year, at either a private or public college.

Worth Noting:  A resident of the Lakeshore communities with a median income of approximately $50,707.00 could pay as little as $380 per year and enjoy the benefits of a stronger economy and increased home values

How do we arrive at the figure of $5,000 per student?

There are approximately 1,500 high school seniors in the proposed Lakeshore Promise area, which again, include Filmore Township, Holland City, Holland Charter Twp, Laketown Twp, Olive Twp, Park Twp, Port Sheldon Twp, Zeeland City and Zeeland Twp.

According to statistics from the Kalamazoo Promise, approximately 85% of graduating seniors might participate in the Lakeshore Promise. (Only 85% because some will elect to attend a school outside of Michigan, others will choose not to attend college and there will be some who drop out after a year or two.)

If 85% of our students took advantage of the Lakeshore Promise, the approximate cost would be $5,000 per student per year (capped at $10,00 – the cost of University of Michigan tuition.)  Increased Merit Scholarship money could reduce the tuition cost per student even further. 

And this tuition could be applied not only to Michigan's public colleges and universities (as the Kalamazoo Promise stipulates) but at private institutions as well. Our students would benefit from a broad spectrum of education opportunities, allowing the right fit for each individual student and family. 
     
For families with children hoping, the benefits are obvious.  More disposable income to invest in the community now, and the security of knowing their children will be equipped for the future.

For those of us who do not have children needing a college education, those whose children choose not to attend a Michigan institution, or those who have already paid for college education, the question is :

Are we willing to invest in the next generation? 
Are we willing to invest in keeping our restaurants and retail stores thriving? 
Do we want to keep real estate selling and home prices stable?  Are we willing to invest in keeping jobs in this community as well as attracting new business? 

The Lakeshore Promise could make that happen.

What can you do if you share our dream? 

Sign the petition.  (See the link at the top of this page.)  We’ll send it to our government leaders to show them there is community support for the dream.