Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Office of Education to enter into contract with Columbus State Community College for the purpose of providing student support services for those enrolled in the Columbus Promise program.
The Columbus Promise program is focused on advancing a college-going culture, eliminating barriers to postsecondary education, providing wraparound support that spans academic needs as well as non-academic issues that affect college-going, and workforce preparation and well-paying internships and employment through Columbus Promise Earn and Learn.
This ordinance will fund a portion of the staff needed to provide wraparound, holistic success coaching and career preparation which is essential for Columbus Promise to meet its goals of advancing both access and success of Columbus City School graduates, leading to completion of degrees or certifications that will allow students to move on to 4-year baccalaureate study or high-wage jobs.
The Columbus Promise program seeks to focus on these tangible and measurable outcomes to operationalize its core beliefs:
1. Increase in preparation for college with a focus on advancing students’ expectations for college-level work, accountability, and navigating college business
2. Increase in enrollments of first-time, recent Columbus City School graduates
3. Increase college success metrics related to key milestones like credit completion and course completion, utilization of college holistic support resources, and maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress
4. Increases in four-year baccalaureate college attendance through associate degree completion and increase transfer rates; and
5. Increase in attainment of certificates and credentials as well as securing high-wage jobs upon completion.
These funds will support the majority of the fall semester of student services for the Columbus Promise program. It is anticipated that additional funds will be needed to support the spring semester.
Fiscal Impact: Funding ($666,947) to support this agreement is available within the Office of Education’s General Fund budget, as amended in Ordinance 2938-2025 on January 12, 2026.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Office of Education to enter into contract with Columbus State Community College for the purpose of providing student support services for those enrolled in the Columbus Promise program; to authorize expenses prior to the purchase order; to authorize an expenditure within the General Fund. ($666,947.00)
Body
WHEREAS, The Columbus Promise program is focused on advancing a college-going culture, eliminating barriers to postsecondary education; and
WHEREAS, a key component of the Columbus Promise is the provisioning of wraparound support that spans academic needs as well as non-academic issues that affect college-going; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance will fund wraparound, holistic success coaching and career preparation which is essential for Columbus Promise to meet its goals of advancing both access and success of Columbus City School graduates;
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the Director of the Office of Education to enter into a contract with Columbus State Community College to provide student support services for the 2026-2027 school year of the Columbus Promise program; and NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Office of Education is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Columbus State Community College for the purpose of providing student support services between August 1, 2026, and July 31, 2027, for those enrolled in the Columbus Promise program.
SECTION 2. That per the action authorized in Section 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $666,947.00 within the General Fund is hereby authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That this agreement is authorized per the non-profit service contracting provisions of Section 329 of Columbus City Codes.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.