Community-level effects of the Kalamazoo promise

1. Community-level effectsof the Kalamazoo promise Michelle Miller-Adams, Research Fellow W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research October 11, 2013 Presentation at Lumina Foundation, Indianapolis, IN

2. Summary of three small studies exploring community-level effects of the Promise • Shift in college choice by high-achieving students • Media coverage of the Kalamazoo Public Schools • Community identity survey of business/civic leaders

3. Shift in college choice • Data analysis examined college choices of KAMSC graduates, 1990-2012 • Two opportunities for comparison: pre- v. post-Promise and KPS v. non-KPS • Main finding: Post-Promise, the percentage of KPS KAMSC students attending public, in-state institutions of higher education almost doubled. • At the same time, the percentage of non-KPS KAMSC students attending public, in-state institutions rose only slightly (possibly due to economic climate).

4. For non-KPS KAMSC students, college choices shifted very little following the announcement of the Kalamazoo Promise.

5. For KPS KAMSC students, college choices shifted dramatically following the announcement of the Kalamazoo Promise.

6. College choice, continued • At state’s three most selective public universities: • 46 KPS KAMSC attendees in 7 years pre-Promise • 80 KPS KAMSC attendees in 7 years post-Promise • Significance • Students who attend college in state are more likely to remain in state for their careers. • Sends signal to KPS students and community that KPS students can succeed at most competitive colleges

7. Media coverage of urban school districts

8. Media coverage of Kalamazoo Public Schools • Two opportunities for comparison: • Pre- and post-Promise (samples from 2005 and 2008) • Kalamazoo Gazette v. Grand Rapids Press • Method: content analysis • Findings • Amount of press coverage of KPS increased post-Promise • Positive articles increased post-Promise in Kalamazoo Gazette • No commensurate changes in Grand Rapids Press

9. Increase in amount of coverage and percentage of positive coverage of Kalamazoo Public Schools after introduction of the Kalamazoo Promise.

10. No increase either in amount of coverage or percentage of positive coverage of Grand Rapids Public Schools over the same time period.

11. The role of education in community identity • Online survey administered to civic and business leaders in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. • Joint invitation by W.E. Upjohn Institute and regional economic development organization. • Response rates comparable • Kalamazoo: 28% (n= 281), Grand Rapids: 23% (n=444) • Asked about key factors that play a role in a community’s quality of life and economic health. • Open-ended question about top three community assets.

12. Findings • Public schools ranked poorly in both surveys, but better in Kalamazoo than in Grand Rapids • 58% of Kalamazoo respondents v. 18% of Grand Rapids respondents rated public schools as Strong or Somewhat Strong • Much stronger emphasis on educational assets in Kalamazoo • 19% of Kalamazoo respondents mentioned an educational resource, versus only 3% of Grand Rapids respondents in open-ended question

13. Significance • Both media study and survey address perceptions, not reality. • Perceptions matter in decision-making. • For parents, teachers, businesses, community members • Perceptions change slowly, tend to lag reality • Role of media, word of mouth, first-hand experience • Benchmarks matter – what is appropriate comparison? • Neighboring districts, similar districts, past performance