Recent high school graduate Khloe Pope is off to college this fall. Pope will probably pack her favorite electronic devices, desk lamp, clothing and maybe even her special bed pillow. But the student, who attended the Cleveland School of Science and Medicine within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), will also have (at least figuratively) a Say Yes scholarship tucked under her arm.
Say Yes Cleveland is a multifaceted, nonprofit program that strives to help all students in the school district thrive and graduate. As of fall 2022, all 104 CMSD and partner charter schools have Say Yes Cleveland support services that serve more than 37,000 students.
The Say Yes college scholarship is a gap-closing scholarship available to all eligible CMSD high school graduates planning to attend an Ohio public four-year university, two-year college or (Pell-eligible) trade/certificate program in addition to more than 100 private schools across the country.
With its scholarship opportunities, Say Yes hopes “to increase education levels of Cleveland residents, boost and retain population in the City of Cleveland, improve college access for middle- and low-income families in Cleveland, and spur economic growth and expansion in Cleveland.”
To Pope, the scholarship means the beginning of her future.
“Initially, Khloe wanted to go into medicine, specifically becoming a doctor,” says Gesta Miller, Khloe’s mother and a parent ambassador for her daughter’s magnet high school. “But I think that has changed a bit because of the exposure she has had to other healthcare professions and the other sciences through the School of Science and Medicine. There have been lots of opportunities to find out more about a variety of career paths.”
Khloe, Miller’s oldest daughter, was home-schooled and then enrolled in a charter school until the ninth grade. When it became time to send Khloe to a high school, Miller says the choice was between a public or parochial school. She chose CMSD because she thought the School of Science and Medicine’s extensive and expanded programs, early college placement and other opportunities would help prepare Khloe for a vigorous secondary health care education.
“Many people choose Cleveland schools for their children because of the Say Yes scholarship,” says Miller. “We really didn’t know about the Say Yes program until Khloe was already enrolled in the public school. The scholarship is important, but I believe the Say Yes support services and the Family Support Specialists are as equally vital as the scholarships.
“Khloe was able to speak with Donna Dixon, the Family Support Specialist at my daughter’s high school, who helped her through this whole process,” notes Miller.
Dixon says she thinks many students shy away from college because “they are worried about student debt and how much it effects their lives. But if we have students who believe they can go to college because of Say Yes and possibly be tuition free, especially if they attend a school in Ohio, then we have students who can focus more on their studies and have less stress.”
The family support specialist emphasizes that Say Yes scholarships cover tuition and standard fees, not room, board or books. But the financial help is obviously still quite significant.
Say Yes assists those students thinking about college or higher education in various ways besides the awarding of scholarships. For example, students have access to tutoring and checklists that are designed to help them navigate the path “to and through” college, reminding them what to do and when to have a successful and complete experience.
Students also can explore career opportunities through internships, participating in panel discussions and being assigned mentors. In conjunction with College Now Greater Cleveland, assistance is also given to parents and students when applying for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and filling out college applications. College information nights are also planned at schools for families.
“Recently a student reached out to me who was really interested in military psychology. Normally you don’t have students be that specific. But we were able to connect her with someone who works in military mental health and who could answer the student’s questions,” says Dixon, who, like many other family support specialists, utilizes the Say Yes’s Postsecondary Planning System.
Donnae’jah McRae, a sophomore at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, is a Say Yes Cleveland scholarship recipient who credits the program for providing her with “resources, support, supplies, academic guidance and more.”
“I am a first gen college student with little to no family support,” says McRae. “Say Yes has been that support for me. From getting me to college to getting me through. The scholarship closed a financial gap and lifted that financial barrier for me. Now I will graduate college debt free. Say Yes still makes sure that I and many others have connections and mentors to help me through life and school experiences, which I feel makes a big difference in my confidence and academic ability.”
Say Yes is a citywide collaboration that includes the school district, government officials and the philanthropic and nonprofit sector. Currently, Say Yes also assists in obtaining basic needs (including food requirements) for all students. Funding for Say Yes is provided by a number of sources, including city and county funds (some of which are federal in origin) as well as money from charter schools in CMSD. Recently, some concerns over disbursements of funds and deficits have been raised. However, school officials say scholarship money is not in jeopardy.
“Student scholarships will not be affected,” says Dixon. “That funding is secure and specifically set aside. We are good to go. We are with these students every step of the way. We celebrate their college signing day, their time through college and students who have graduated college and are still in touch.”
