EVERY CHILD in the Kalamazoo Public Schools can afford to go to college because of The Kalamazoo Promise®.

Unfortunately, without significant support, a substantial percentage of our children won't graduate from high school, or won't graduate college-ready and benefit from The Promise® scholarship. When one child loses, our entire community loses. A single high school dropout, over the course of his or her lifetime, costs the state approximately $275,000 in lost earnings, taxes, and productivity.

A system for organizing and coordinating learning readiness and learning support services for disadvantaged students in the KPS district was initiated in 1999 and was merged with two other entities in 2003. This system, Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo (CIS), brings together major service providers, volunteers, government, business leaders, school officials, health care, and other concerned citizens within the schools to create access to essential resources for students' success in school. CIS serves as the catalyst for a greater level of community awareness and engagement in helping all children meet their essential needs for achievement in school and in life.

Our mission became even more urgent with the 2005 announcement of The Kalamazoo Promise®. The challenge for students who have limited knowledge and experience with higher education is to integrate the college-going culture into their own self-image and behavior—staying in school with the understanding and determination that they will prepare for and go to college, either for a four-year degree or a vocational certificate which will allow them to succeed in a global economy. Likewise, the obstacles thrown into their path by life circumstances not of their own making, must consistently be removed so that they can focus exclusively on developing academically, socially, physically, and emotionally. By collaborating with the community, teachers are free to teach, and students—many in jeopardy of dropping out—can focus on learning.

Kalamazoo claims itself as the education community and believes that all youth deserve the opportunity and support they need to graduate from high school, prepared for college, career, and life. To truly live this out, it is imperative that we each take action to support this belief. Volunteer or partner with us. Donate. Advocate. We hope that you will join us in our mission.