Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Finance and Management to enter into a not for profit services contract with I Know I Can in support of The Columbus Promise program.
For a decade, Ohio has struggled to counter declining college-going rates amidst growing college costs. Then COVID-19 delivered another shock, putting college farther out of reach for many. Left unabated, these trends will undoubtedly have downstream effects on the workforce. In the 21st century, good paying jobs for those without training or education after high school are disappearing. This growing skills gap locks many in a cycle of low-paying work and forces businesses to import talent when they cannot find qualified workers. To foster inclusive prosperity and workforce competitiveness, Columbus must boost residents’ educational attainment, a critical priority infused with new urgency by pandemic impacts. This is a primary goal of the Columbus Promise, to make education affordable and desirable to Columbus City Schools (CCS) graduates.
In addition to workforce implications, education remains the most direct route out of poverty. Students with a college degree have fared far better (even during the last recession) than those who either left school before graduation or earned only a high school diploma. On average, college graduates earn about a million more dollars over their lifetime compared to high school graduates. As part of an existing program model, I Know I Can - a not for profit 501(c)(3) doing business in the state of Ohio (IKIC) - will promote participation in the Columbus Promise to the more than 2,000 CCS high school seniors it serves annually. As part of program promotion, IKIC will work to increase FAFSA completion among seniors (57% in 2021 with a goal of 65% for the class of 2022) and also the percentage of students who complete at least one college application. Once these procedural steps are completed (ultimately increasing the pipeline of college-ready ...
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