Title
Resolution in Support of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between Guilford County, the City Of Greensboro, the City Of High Point, Guilford County, Guilford County Schools and Say Yes To Education
Body
Department: Executive
Council District: All
Public Hearing: N/A
Advertising Date/By: N/A
Contact 1 and Phone: Mary Vigue 373-2002
Contact 2 and Phone: Jim Westmoreland 373-2002
PURPOSE:
Council is requested to consider adopting the attached resolution in support of Guilford County being the next Say Yes to Education community and to allow the City Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Guilford County, High Point, Guilford County School and Say Yes National.
BACKGROUND:
After a national search, Guilford County is the leading candidate to become the next Say Yes to Education community. Say Yes provides an unprecedented opportunity for our community to work together to ensure that every graduate of Guilford County Schools can get a post-secondary education.
Say Yes to Education is a nonprofit organization founded in 1987 by money manager George Weiss when he promised 100 sixth graders at a Philadelphia public school that he would pay to send them to college if they graduated from high school. Since then, Say Yes has evolved into a national nonprofit that galvanizes communities to help public school students get the support they need to graduate from high school, prepared for post-secondary education, and to help students afford and complete the certification or degree they choose. Say Yes works as an investor and facilitator bringing government, school, nonprofit, community and parent leaders to the same table to make key funding and operational decisions focused on building successful pathways for students. Say Yes invests $15 million over 5 years to help seed and expand key supports, to develop common measures, and to fund a small core staff to coordinate work across silos.
A local scholarship endowment would provide last dollar tuition scholarships for all graduates of Guilford County Schools to attend N.C. state colleges and universities. These last dollar tuition scholarships would close the gap between grants and aid like Pell Grants, other scholarships, and the cost of in-state tuition. All Guilford County School graduates would be eligible regardless of family income.
Starting with our youngest learners and ending only after students reach the goal of a post-secondary degree or certification, the Say Yes investment would help us connect and sustain the supports students and families need outside the classroom to clear the path to academic success. In other communities, this has included tutoring, after-school programs, summer programs, medical care, counseling and legal help. Say Yes’ work is rigorous and based on research. They also invest in the technology that helps educators, service providers and parents gauge students’ progress toward college readiness and keep them on track. Our community would decide what supports are needed - not the Say Yes national organization.
The Say Yes National Board of Directors has outlined several contingencies - organizational and financial - that our community must meet to launch the partnership. A local Planning Group is leading the effort to move toward full partnership and is already working with a wide variety of stakeholders in our community. Say Yes communities enjoy a significant, positive economic impact. Say Yes creates a more educated labor force, incentives for businesses to start or relocate into a community, a stronger tax base, increased property values and more. Say Yes can help revitalize communities and improve economic outcomes, while also helping students and families achieve their dreams of a college education.
BUDGET IMPACT:
There is no impact on the budget. Say Yes partners work together to combine current resources.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
City Council is requested to consider adopting the attached resolution in support of Guilford County being the next Say Yes to Education community and to allow the City Manager to enter into a memorandum of understanding with Guilford County, High Point, Guilford County School and Say Yes National.