Phoenix is giving $5 million to the Maricopa County Community College District Foundation as part of the new Phoenix Promise Program.
The money will come from federal relief funds and cover tuition and expenses, like books, transportation and child care for about 400 students with financial need.
During Wednesday’s city council meeting, Reyna Montoya with Aliento Education Fund, told members the program will provide transformational opportunities for a variety of Phoenix residents.
“Recent high school graduates, returning students, many diverse populations that typically get underrepresented to have a fair shot to be able to go back to school, get their two or four-year degrees,” she said.
Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari said there are pieces of the program that need to be improved.
“Because this is federal funding, we are unable legally to support our DACA students with it but something we’re looking to do very soon, now that we’ve launched the program, is bringing in other partners-whether that be from the private sector, from school districts, anyone who is interested in joining us – the county- to be able to get other funding to be able to support students who want to take advent of this prome but maybe that Phoenix specific funding can’t work for them.”
According to a city report, ”The Foundation will use a subcontractor to implement digital and in-person outreach campaigns to enroll students from underrepresented communities into the Phoenix Promise Program. The Foundation's administrative costs for this program is 5.6 percent of the funding, or $280,000.”
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