A couple of years ago there was a story circulating about a school district in Kalamazoo, Michigan where a private donor had guaranteed that any child who graduated from the district was guaranteed tuition money to attend a state college. The city suddenly saw signs of economic development, higher student enrollment and fewer dropouts. Apparently, the trend is catching on across the country, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Tuition guarantees are gaining momentum across the nation, with more than 20 cities either establishing such programs or planting the idea in hopes that private donors or taxpayers will pony up the money to help offset staggering increases in college costs. At the same time, these programs also aim to attract new businesses and spur home ownership. It is too early to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of these fledgling programs, scattered around the country in places like El Dorado, Ark., and Hammond, Ind. While the Kalamazoo Promise has generated tremendous interest, economists point out that many communities do not have the private wealth that Kalamazoo has. And school officials caution that the programs, by themselves, guarantee only that a student will be able to go to college.
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