By chosing Kalamazoo Central, Obama sends a strong message towards reform

Yes, as many of you have already heard, President Barack Obama has chosen to speak at Kalamazoo Central's commencement ceremony. This is a time to celebrate the spotlight that his arrival will bring to the positive work in our community.

His choice is significant not only because it highlights a local school in our community, but because of the message it sends of education reform across America. 57 percent of its students are from low-income families and 61 percent are minorities. It was struggling to send its students on to higher education.

Enter the Kalamazoo Promise in 2005: Since then, over 91% of its students have attended college. The Promise is a public-private partnership that took advantages of the resources available in the community to offer disadvantaged children an opportunity to succeed. By doing this, Kalamazoo Central represents a model other struggling urban districts to turn themselves around.

Julie Mack of the Kalamazoo Gazette said it best:

Specialty schools such as Clark and Denver School for Science and Technology “are good for some families,” but won’t solve the problems of American education, Miron said.

That’s what makes K-Central “such a viable model” for the White House competition, he added. “It’s a model for reform that can serve all kids.”

Read the full article: http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/05/winner_of_president_barack_oba.html