Promise Programs Offer Hope to Students
July 24, 2013 RSS Feed Print
A group of anonymous donors launched Kalamazoo Promise in 2005 to provide full tuition for public school students in the community.
The cost of postsecondary education in America has risen so high it is unaffordable for many to pursue the education necessary for success in this competitive job market. Individuals who have taken out tens of thousands of dollars in student loans to achieve their dreams can be left to carry the burden of student debt.
Imagine instead that we lived in a society where the wealthy voluntarily invested a portion of their money in education for those who are unable afford it. What would our society look like?
While it seems too good to be true, this scenario exists as what are called "promise programs" in local communities around the country. In "The Promise of 'Promise' Programs," a paper by Rodney J. Andrews,
