City Council gives $500K to Scottsdale College Promise last-dollar program
By Terrance Thornton | Digital Free Press
Scottsdale City Council has planted its first seed meant to blossom into a promise for higher education for all who graduate from high school part of the Scottsdale Unified School District will be provided a scholarship to attend community college.
Scottsdale City Council Tuesday, June 25 approved $500,000 in last-dollar funding to create the Scottsdale College Promise whereas last night’s unanimous consent agenda approval provides Scottsdale Community College with first-year funding up to $100,000.
“The Scottsdale College Promise (“program”) is a contribution from the city to its residents that is supported by educational institutions as partners,” said Stephanie Zamora, a management associate at the city manager’s office, in her June 25 report to City Council.
“The proposed agreement establishes the Maricopa County Community College District Foundation as the entity to disburse the funds to eligible students, and the Maricopa County Community College District, on behalf of Scottsdale Community College, to operate and administer the program. The program will be run in consultation with the City, who is established as the main funder of the program.”
Provided in her report, Ms. Zamora outlined key Scottsdale College Promise tenets:
- The Scottsdale College Promise is a last dollar public education outreach effort providing financial support for Scottsdale students to attend community college;
- Scottsdale residents and students graduating from a Scottsdale-based high school are eligible to apply for the program; and
•The Scottsdale City Council approved $500,000 in seed funding through the fiscal year 2023-24 budget with approvals now establishing the Scottsdale College Promise with first year funding of up to $100,000.
Read the report for yourself, HERE.
Ms. Zamora says the Scottsdale College Promise is a needs-based program to be used when all other scholarships and grant funding has been exhausted, a last-dollar scholarship.
“Students who receive funding from the Scottsdale College Promise can attend any school within the Maricopa County Community College District to maximize educational opportunities; however, Scottsdale Community College is considered as the anchor institution for the program,” she said.
The proposed agreement enables the city of Scottsdale to provide the first year of funding up to $100,000 to remain in effect through June 30, 2028 and the total amount not to exceed $500,000.”
