Say Yes Cleveland releases first progress report
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Say Yes Cleveland says 713 Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) graduates have earned a college degree or credential since the nonprofit scholarship program launched in 2019.
Why it matters: The program debuted with enormous fanfare and sweeping promises — free tuition for all eligible CMSD graduates for the next 25 years.
- But this marks the first update about the program's success.
Driving the news: Say Yes last month quietly published a progress report on its first six years, providing data and insights into a program that has raised $108 million.
How it works: Say Yes is a "last dollar" scholarship program, meaning it covers the remaining tuition and mandatory fees for students to attend around 100 partner two-year and four-year institutions, after federal and state aid is applied.
- Say Yes has awarded $17 million in scholarships, the report said.
- For the 15% of CMSD students whose families make more than $75,000 per year, the annual Say Yes scholarship tops out at $5,000.
Stunning stat: The median family income of Say Yes scholarship recipients is $26,785, a third of the U.S. median family income.
By the numbers: Of the nearly 10,000 students with Say Yes eligibility who graduated between 2019-2024, just over half (5,122) enrolled in college, per the report.
- Say Yes surveys suggest 85% of students express interest in postsecondary education. The report says the program must tackle this "gap between aspiration and enrollment."
Friction points: The report acknowledges it must continue to provide services for students once they reach college campuses and push partner institutions to provide aid for non-tuition costs to increase participation.
- "The national rhetoric around college right now — its value, its cost, its curriculum — may be diminishing postsecondary matriculation," the report speculates.
- Recognizing the financial hurdles, Say Yes now offers low-income students up to $1,000 per year in additional support plus $500 for one-time emergencies.
Between the lines: The Say Yes organization is split into two functions — its scholarship arm and its operations arm, which provides family support specialists at CMSD schools.
- The viability of the latter was debated in 2023 because of its struggle to identify long-term funding.
What they're saying: When asked about the funding picture, spokesperson Nancy Lesic told Axios that CMSD remains the organization's primary funder, with additional support from Cuyahoga County and state TANF grants.
- "Say Yes Family Support Specialists continue to provide consistent, high-quality support in every CMSD school."