Say Yes Buffalo announced today that 20 private colleges have joined Say Yes Buffalo to provide additional collegiate and post-secondary opportunities to graduates of Buffalo public and charter schools. These colleges (see attached list) join 74 SUNY and CUNY colleges in offering a tuition guarantee for every eligible graduate.
More than $17 million has been raised locally to fund the scholarship component of Say Yes Buffalo. The first scholarships will be available to the class of 2013.
The scholarship opportunity for SUNY, CUNY and private institutions covers tuition. Room and board, textbooks and other fees are not covered by the initiative.
Say Yes Buffalo also announced the establishment of an opportunity grant program to assist high-need students who wish to reside on campus at an eligible SUNY or CUNY college. These grants can be used toward additional college costs beyond tuition, up to $2,000.
“The business community realizes that an investment in public education through Say Yes Buffalo will provide a significant return over the long term,” said Clotilde Dedecker, president and CEO, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. “I am thrilled that so many individuals, businesses, and foundations are stepping up to support this critical initiative for our city and region. Thanks to their generosity, thousands of children will be able to realize their dream of attending college.”
There are no income requirements for students attending SUNY and CUNY schools. For most of the private colleges and universities generously offering the tuition guarantee, there is an income cap requirement of $75,000. If students from families exceeding the income cap are eligible for a Say Yes Buffalo Tuition Scholarship but choose to attend a private institution that is a member of the Say Yes Buffalo Private Compact, they can apply for a Say Yes Buffalo Choice Grant. The Choice Grant provides up to $5,000 per year based on the difference between other financial aid awarded and the cost of full-time tuition. Choice Grants, in addition to other financial aid awarded by the college and/or private grants/scholarships, are not to exceed the cost of full-time undergraduate tuition.
Say Yes Buffalo is a transformational and generational initiative; it has taken years of planning and hard work to build a foundation that will dramatically increase the high school graduation and college matriculation rates over the next 20 years,” said David P. Rust, executive director, Say Yes Buffalo. “We expect that between the scholarship incentive and the comprehensive system of supports for Buffalo Public School students, Say Yes Buffalo and the community will realize our goal to ensure that all students succeed in the coming years.”
The rollout also includes the plan for implementing a comprehensive system of supports across the district. Beginning this year, students district wide will participate in a Student Success System, with input from teachers, parents, and students. This system will be used to gauge individual performance, develop an individual growth plan, and use appropriate interventions when students are not on track to graduate.
“While raising money for college tuition is a critical component of Say Yes Buffalo, just as important is putting in place in each school a continuum of services that provides each child the best opportunity possible to get prepared for college,” said Mary Anne Schmitt-Carey, president, Say Yes to Education, Inc. “Working in conjunction with various community partners, we will be able to provide services and programs in the schools to help our children thrive academically and socially.”
“Say Yes Buffalo will help us to provide invaluable supports that will help our students to graduate on time and pursue college studies,” according to Superintendent Dr. Pamela C. Brown. “Every child deserves a 21st century, world-class education in order to reach their full potential, and our partnership with Say Yes will help to see that goal through, beginning with our youngest students and reaching beyond the 12th grade.”
“We are pleased and excited to join forces with Say Yes Buffalo to transform the Buffalo public schools system,” said Robert D. Gioia, president of the John R. Oishei Foundation. “The philanthropic community is committed to doing whatever we can to help to bring the necessary resources to each school in the district to provide children the tools they are going to need for success.”
For more information about Say Yes Buffalo, please visit http://www.sayyesbuffalo.org/