The first round of students under Buffalo's new Say Yes to Education program will be heading to college this fall. WBFO's Eileen Buckley says these students received scholarships to pay for their education.
"It's been remarkable and frankly we're literally years ahead of where we were implementing in Syracuse," said Gene Chasin, chief operating officer with the Say Yes to Education Foundation.
Chasin appeared at a recent quarterly update meeting on the program for Buffalo educators, school leaders, parents and local officials.
Chasin describes the roll out and progress of Buffalo's Say Yes as "phenomenal". He attributes the success to its key partnerships and collaborations.
"Remarkably higher levels of students have applied for college. Almost 100% of the eligible students that graduate from Buffalo Public Schools in the spring applied to at least one college -- that's remarkable -- and it is a seed change for the community" said Chasin.
That's a 40% increase in the number of city school students applying for college, but Chasin insists its not only due to Say Yes.
"We've got a large number of students going to Erie Community College," said Chasin. "We've got a large number of students going to Medaille, NCCC, to Buff State."
But firm numbers of just how many are heading to college from city schools through Say Yes won't be confirmed until October -- once attendance numbers at those schools are confirmed.
Half the schools already have site facilitators and Say Yes is now working to roll out afterschool programs in half of the district's schools by this fall. Students in Buffalo Public Schools are being encouraged to attend college as early as kindergarten.
"The kids are identifying colleges they want to go to in kindergarten, so it becomes an expectation for the children and the families," said Chasin.