Improving lives in Kalamazoo County
from cradle to career.
Community Achievement Profile
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“What inspires you?”
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Think for a moment about someone in your life who inspires you: a teacher, a mentor, a neighbor, a parent or grandparent. For me, students are my source of inspiration and motivation. I’ve worked with students facing some of the most challenging situations life can present, such as homelessness and economic hardship. I’ve also worked with students to help them transition out of the foster care system, navigate financial aid resources, discover tutoring or mentoring opportunities, and build networks to foster strength and success.
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These resilient and determined students inspire me every day. As you scroll through this report, I hope you find inspiration in the strength of the students who made it through high school and college despite the barriers to their success. I hope you find or renew your commitment to serve the students who are at risk of dropping out or falling behind. I hope you take a moment to thank an educator, administrator, or service provider who works to help all students reach their full potential. And I hope you take some time to help those in our community who still need support and resources.
This report presents a profile of education data for Kalamazoo County using public information as well as project-based data that was tracked through The Learning Network’s partners and Action Networks.
The purpose of this Community Achievement Profile is to make this data accessible and to encourage discussion. We’re eager to track changes over time and identify specific needs that we can address together, as a community.
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All students in Kalamazoo County, from cradle to career, deserve the best chance at a bright future.
I hope you’ll join us in working together to ensure that every student can achieve their full learning potential.
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Cyekeia Lee
Director, The Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo
Focus on Kindergarten Readiness
Important Terminology
EVERY CHILD IN KALAMAZOO COUNTY:
Approximately half of Kalamazoo County’s kindergarten aged children come from economically disadvantaged households, as defined by state qualifications for free or reduced-priced meals in school. These children often face additional risks such as housing insecurity, generational poverty, illiterate parents or guardians, and reduced access to enrichment programs.
The Learning Network seeks to support these economically disadvantaged children in order to break cycles of generational poverty so that students can achieve their full learning potential.
KINDERGARTEN READINESS BENCHMARKS:
While benchmark definitions vary across sector, city, state, and national standards, The Learning Network measures kindergarten readiness by the successful completion of high quality preschool.
Read more in the sections below to see how high quality preschool helps pave the way for individual and community-wide success.
If you’re curious, the State of Michigan’s benchmarks include kindergarten abilities in Mathematics, Literacy, Language, Social and Emotional Development, and Physical and Motor Development. However, schools are moving away from kindergarten assessments. Learn more here.
HIGH QUALITY PRESCHOOL:
Using guidelines from the Office of Great Start:
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Child care and preschool providers are scored based on a set of indicators that cover the following areas: Staff Qualifications, Family and Community Partnerships, Administration, Environment, and Curriculum, Screening and Assessment. The scores in each area are combined to give them a star rating.
4 and 5 stars count as high quality, but not all preschools participate in the QRIS (quality rating and improvement system).
WHY PRESCHOOL?
High quality preschool education is not just the benchmark for kindergarten readiness. Indeed, preschool paves the way for future success. Early education has the power to develop a child’s social-emotional awareness and skills. Additionally, early age learning launches a child’s neurological abilities, propelling them towards success in later years.
GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY, TOO!
So preschool is good for students. Why does this matter to me? A successful preschool experience improves educational and professional achievements in later years. By extension, a strong preschool experience helps build a stronger workforce, develops community-wide economic growth, and reduces behavioral, disciplinary, and academic interventions later in a child’s life.
Watch Dr. Timothy Bartik’s TED Talk to learn more about how high quality preschool is good for the entire community.
RECENT SUCCESS WITH KINDERGARTEN READINESS IN KALAMAZOO:
Over the last five years, the number of children enrolled in high quality preschool has more than doubled!
Focus on 3rd Grade - 8th Grade
In 2014, Michigan introduced a new assessment program called Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, or M-STEP. The M-STEP is given primarily online and is designed to measure how students are mastering state standards. Scores should not be compared to the past state test, the MEAP, because the two tests measure different standards.
-Dr. Dania Bazzi, Superintendent, Galesburg-Augusta Schools
-Dr. Thomas Harwood, Deputy Superintendent, KRESA
-Dr. Margaret McGlinchey, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, KRESA
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WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Reading Proficiency scores hover consistently around 50% in the state as well as the greater Kalamazoo region. This means that roughly half of the students tested are considered proficient or advanced while half are struggling to reach proficiency. Reading proficiency from the M-STEP test measures both understanding and application of the grade level content based on state level standards defined for Michigan students.
Low reading proficiency, especially in early years, can hinder a student’s ability to understand and apply grade level content. This means that a low proficiency reader will also struggle to keep up in science and social studies, because their reading skills are the key to understanding subject matter in each area.
Low proficiency students require additional support and may even need extensive interventions to improve their achievement.
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In a 2010 study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 3rd Grade Reading was identified as a predictor of future achievements such as high school graduation, and by extension, is a predictor of an individual’s future earning potential.
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WITH THAT SAID...
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Standardized tests evaluate a child's performance on a given day and do not consider external factors such as motivation, health, or test-taking skills. Our educators are faced with the enormous challenge of pursuing state academic standards while also uncovering each child's unique gifts, motivations, and abilities.
-Dr. Dania Bazzi, Superintendent, Galesburg-Augusta Schools
-Dr. Thomas Harwood, Deputy Superintendent, KRESA
-Dr. Margaret McGlinchey, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, KRESA
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BUILDING YEAR-to-YEAR GROWTH
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Learning happens inside the classroom as well as outside of the classroom. The Out of School Time (OST) sector specializes in learning outside the classroom. Out of School Time can include the hours before-school, after-school, and during summer or other breaks.
A 2006 analysis of at-risk youth found that frequent and consistent participation in high quality Out of School Time programs leads to a reduced achievement gap between low and high income students when tested in fifth grade math and reading. Read the full study here.
In Kalamazoo County, only 17% of K-12 students participate in these high quality Out-of-School Time programs. Organized by the Kalamazoo Youth Development Network, the Out-of-School Time programs providers focus on program quality, Social-Emotional Learning techniques, and issues of learning loss in summer and after school. These programs are uniquely positioned to engage students in social emotional learning, youth leadership, and develop deeper parent engagement in student learning.
Student photos courtesy of Kalamazoo Youth Development Network
Focus on High School
Working to ensure that every high school student in Kalamazoo County stays in school and successfully earns a high school diploma or its equivalent.
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Over the last five years, high school dropout rates have declined. However, risk factors still exist. Three core factors provide a framework for understanding dropouts. A student can be pushed out of the educational system, pulled out when factors outside the school setting prevent high school completion, and finally, a student can fall out of school as a side effect of disengagement or lack of support.
Students do not actively try to drop out of school, but one major setback or a combination of these factors can result in dropping out.
-Von Washington, Jr.
Executive Director of Community Relations
High School Completion Rates
Kalamazoo County
In 2015, 76.1% of high school seniors graduated on time. 14.8% of seniors continued past 4 years with the intention to complete high school. Over the last five years, Kalamazoo County dropout rates have fallen from 12.4% to 9.0%.
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College and Career Action Network
Comprised of cross sector leaders from K-12 education, higher education, business, and philanthropy, the College and Career Action Network (CACAN) develops and implements initiatives around college and career readiness. CACAN is dedicated to increasing access and enrollment to post-secondary education and increasing career readiness, particularly among low-income, first generation college going students.
-Excerpt from College and Career Action Network Charter
Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) Scholarship Advising:
A part of CACAN's programming to support students manage college costs, counselors provide individualized advising and support to eligible Kalamazoo area students for this grant from the State of Michigan. Of the 704 students who were identified as eligible TIP recipients, 619 students received application support.
FAFSA Completion:
In another effort to support students maximizing their knowledge of financial aid for college, 16 FAFSA Completion events were held in 2016. Students and parents filled out financial aid forms with guidance from counselors while additional information was also made available on scholarships and college preparation.
Summer Melt Prevention:
Summer melt occurs when college-intending students fail to matriculate to a post-secondary institution after high school graduation. There are a number of reasons why a student may not show up, including missing orientations, developing cold feet, or simply needing encouragement or support from a trusted adult.
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Completing key college-going steps (e.g. submitting applications, completing financial aid forms, declaring intent, and attending orientations) can reduce a student's likelihood of "melting" at the start of college.
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The 2016 Summer Melt Prevention pilot program involved 66 students from 9 schools who participated in mentoring sessions through phone calls, messages, face-to-face meetings, and group meetings. Mentors covered topics such as student aid, orientation, budgeting, scheduling, majors, and campus resources. At the end of the summer, 50 students successfully matriculated into college.
Post-Secondary Completion:
A growing majority of students at American public colleges do not graduate on time. A 2014 study reported that between 19%-36% of full-time students earn a bachelor's degree within four years at public universities. Some reasons may include the need for remedial coursework, credits lost during transfer, students making uninformed choices about major requirements or course registration, as well as lighter course loads and consistent under-enrollment that put students at a financial and time-bound advantage.
Academic mapping, guided advising, informed registration choices, and full course-loads are some methods being tested to ensure on-time graduation for more students.
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Read more at: Complete College - The 4 Year Myth
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Consider this:
By 2020, 65% of job openings will require some college or post-secondary qualifications.
Focus on Adult Learners
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Whether it's for a job application, a medical form, a utility bill, helping with a child's homework, or simply writing a grocery list, day-to-day tasks become a daily challenge with limited reading skills.
The Adult Literacy Collaborative of Kalamazoo works to train volunteer tutors, establish Community Literacy Centers across the county, and build collaborations with businesses, adult education providers, community organizations, churches, and others to coordinate literacy education efforts and reach struggling adult readers across the county.
-Michael Evans
Executive Director
Kalamazoo Literacy Council and Adult Literacy Collaborative
One in eight adults in Kalamazoo County struggles with reading.
Since 2011, the Kalamazoo Literacy Council has expanded from 14 students to over 140 actively registered with more students participating on a drop-in basis, and even more waiting for tutors. With 14 Community Literacy Centers, tutors are able to reach more students in varying locations, but there is still a great need for more tutors and support.
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To learn how you can become a literacy advocate, tutor an adult learner, or offer financial support, visit the Kalamazoo Literacy Council.
GROWTH IN ADULT LEARNING:
STUDENTS, TUTORS, AND COMMUNITY LITERACY CENTERS
What's Next?
The Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo is committed to strengthening the culture of learning in our community by increasing access to literacy materials, supporting collaborative programming across agencies and organizations, and connecting educators with our caring and engaged community.
The Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo is committed to strengthening the culture of learning in our community by supporting collaborative programming across agencies and organizations, and by connecting educators with our caring and engaged community.
In the coming months, you can expect to see updates to the data from this report on our website where we’ll also be sharing insights on education policies, and you can also learn about support programs, especially around early grade reading.
Please reach out to us if you’re interested in joining or collaborating with one of our Action Networks, would like to receive a monthly newsletter about education and related topics, have time or resources to donate, or have a great idea that you’d like to share! Our community is stronger together, and we look forward to working with you.
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-Cyekeia Lee
Director, The Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo
CONTACT THE LEARNING NETWORK OF GREATER KALAMAZOO
Get in touch with The Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo to learn more about our work and find out how to donate. We appreciate your support!