College for Everyone

http://www.mlive.com/news/kzgazette/index.ssf?/stories/news/20051110_kz_tuition.html

Last night it was announced on the news that every child that attends a Kalamazoo Public School will have the chance to go to college with all or part of her/his tuition paid for. Do you know how amazing this announcement is?

Yes there are some stipulations. If you only attend a Kalamazoo Public school for 2 years, then only a portion of your tuition will be paid for. The college they attend can be any state school in Michigan either 2 year or 4 year.

I really am in awe of this. This could really change the dynamic of the community forever. Public education will change with the thought of every child having an opportunity. The focus doesn't have to be on testing for state funding, but rather getting every child college prep bound. The opportunity set before these children truly is one where you can say anything is possible and reach for the stars.

Not only the schools themselves, but the community. It will be changed forever. It will be a desirable place to live again. People will want to live within the Kalamazoo Public School district.

For the past few years, industry in Kalamazoo has dwindled. Businesses have pulled out and Kalamazoo was looked at as a dying community. People who were moving to the area where moving outside the district to more desirable communities such as Comstock, Mattawan and Portage.

The pure generosity of these donors is pretty wicked-cool. They wish to remain anonymous which also is very cool. They want none of the joy associated with this other than the satisfaction of knowing that children are taking this opportunity and running with it.