Professional Documents
Culture Documents
CASE STATEMENT
Western New York individuals, civic leaders, elected officials, businesses and foundations have come together in support of Say Yes Buffalo because they believe that Buffalos future is full of promise and on the verge of a renaissance. A renaissance, that is driven by embracing todays knowledge-based economy, fueled by youth that come up through an education system that has prepared them to become leaders in solving the worlds biggest challenges and spurring reinvestment in our community.
Introduction
Say Yes Buffalo is an education-based initiative that provides a powerful engine for long-term economic development through radically improving the life course of public school students in the City of Buffalo. Say Yes Buffalo combines a comprehensive K-12 and postsecondary support system with the incentive of a locally funded, last-dollar* , postsecondary** Tuition Scholarship to remove the barriers (financial, academic, social and health) to college access and success for urban youth.
*
All students need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to be considered for scholarships. The free tuition is a last-dollar scholarship, which means that it provides financial support after other available scholarships such as TAP and Pell grants have been exhausted. ostsecondary refers to vocational certificates and 2-year or 4-year P college degrees at eligible institutions.
**
Doctorate $86,580 2.4% 2.5% Professional Degree $80,652 Masters $65,676 3.6% Bachelors $54,756 4.9% Associate $39,936 6.8% 8.7% Some College $37,338
9.4% 14.1%
The strength of the Western New York region is directly related to the strength of our hub city,
Buffalo.
If we want a better Western New York we must create a better Buffalo.
Tutoring Services
Professional Development for District Site Facilitators & Student/Family Social Services Supports
Tuition Scholarship Increases Postsecondary Completion Rates and Stems Population Loss
The Buffalo Public School Districts 2012 four-year high school graduation rate of 47% trails both New York City (60%) and New York State (74%) (Figure 4). This is a crisis.
addition to increasing high school graduation rates for current students in the Buffalo Public Schools, the Tuition Scholarship also creates a powerful incentive for families with school-aged children to remain in or relocate into the city. This is significant, given that Buffalo continues to be plagued by population loss.
Figure 4: 2 012 High School Graduation A declining population further undermines the city that defines our region and Rates
results in declining property tax revenue, offering additional challenges in paying for infrastructure and services built for a city twice its current size. By reversing the population decline, Buffalo will be able to contribute to the economic health of the region, maintain public infrastructure/ services and provide a higher quality of life for its residents.
BPS 47%
NYC 60%
NYS 74%
Say Yes Buffalo answers this crisis by incentivizing high school graduation through the promise of privately funded tuition scholarships to attend an eligible postsecondary institution. As evidenced by similar programs in other cities, this scholarship serves as a powerful motivator for students to succeed in primary and secondary school with the ultimate goal of earning a postsecondary degree or certificate. The success of this approach is evident when considering Say Yes to Educations 25-year history of success in boosting high school and college graduation rates in underserved communities. More than 75% of all participating students in Say Yes chapters have graduated from high school and 50% achieved a postsecondary degree. In
Of all the supports of the Say Yes program, the tuition promise is perhaps the most critical motivating factor for students and families to persevere and continue on the path to graduation. In addition to being the north star for students seeking to pursue a college degree, it is a lever for city-wide turnaround and economic change. The benefit of free tuition influences a wide variety of measurable city-wide outcomes including housing values, attracting new business to the region, enrollment in the city school district and the rate of crime in our community.
Amount of Tuition Award: Last dollar (after state and federal grants and institutional aid are factored in) tuition guarantee. Extent of Benefits: The Say Yes Buffalo Tuition Scholarship is based on the number of years in attendance at public/charter schools in the city of Buffalo: K 12 (up to 100%), 312 (up to 95%), 612 (up to 80%), 912 (up to 65%), 1012 (none) More information at www.SayYesBuffalo.org.
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For the most up-to-date list of participating institutions and to learn more about the different opportunities at each, please visit www.SayYesBuffalo.org.
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These institutions are offering a limited number of scholarships per year. Not all students who are admitted to these schools are guaranteed a Say Yes Scholarship. These institutions may provide financial aid packages that cover more than just tuition costs, for example, room and board, and/or books. Please contact the institution for more details.
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Say Yes Buffalo Opportunity and Choice Grants Opportunity Grants Choice Grants
Say Yes Buffalo has established a special opportunity grant program to assist highneed students enrolled and residing on campus at an eligible SUNY or CUNY college. These grants can be used toward additional college costs beyond tuition (up to $2,000 for those eligible for the maximum federal Pell Grant). Students eligible for a Say Yes Buffalo Tuition Scholarship meet the eligibility for an Opportunity Grant. The Opportunity Grant may not cover all expenses. Students with low income and high remaining need for financial aid assistance are automatically considered for the Opportunity Grant. Students from families whose income is more than $75,000 who are attending a private institution that is participating in the Say Yes Buffalo Private College Compact can apply for a Choice Grant. This grant offers up to $5,000 per year. Awards are determined by the difference between financial aid and the cost of full-time tuition. Choice Grants, when combined with state, federal, and institutional grants and scholarships, are not to exceed the cost of full-time tuition.
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How
Using a combination of the promise of postsecondary tuition, a collaborative school improvement effort, and the coordination and strengthening of community-based services, Say Yes in Buffalo has achieved compelling early results:
Around the age of six, my world was shattered. This was the age I was left at my daycare too late for any of the employees to stay and watch me, making it obvious my mother wasnt coming. Then the suits, as I life to refer to them, came to take me to their office. And as you can tell, there is no father in this story. Months go by and Ive been moved from house to house, trapped in the foster care system, with only brief visits with my mother. I was forced to grow up fast for my own wellbeing. Being surrounded by strangers, I felt none of the love and affection a young child should receive. I didnt know what to do, how to feel. Throughout my childhood I hid the reality of my circumstances well from my family and friends, but inside there was only a dim dream of a college education that could obliterate the fears in my life. When I heard about the Say Yes scholarship opportunity, I knew it was my chance to succeed. For the first time in my life, I have hope for my future. Say Yes is greatly appreciated for assisting me with my future at Villa Maria College. I am a lucky young man. Ricardo*, College Freshman at Villa Maria College *name has been changed
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Strengthening Schools and Community Supports: Funded by Say Yes to Education, Inc., local and national partners
Costs related to the review and realignment of community support services and the districtwide school improvement efforts are covered by a $15 million commitment from Say Yes to Education, Inc. and Say Yes local and national partners. In the long term, the ongoing programmatic costs will be covered through the coordination and reallocation of public County, City and School District funds.
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Directors:
Nancy Davis Davis Family Foundation Danis J. Gehl, Ph.D. UB Educational Opportunity Center Robert D. Gioia The John R. Oishei Foundation Roger Hungerford Amgis Foundation Jeremy Jacobs Jr. Delaware North Companies Luke Jacobs Barrantys LLC Daniel Lewis Orange Capital LLC Mary Anne Schmitt-Carey Say Yes to Education, Inc.
November 2013