Say Yes Buffalo announced an important goal at its quarterly update Wednesday. Leaders and stakeholders of Say Yes gathered at Medaille College in Buffalo Wednesday announcing that the program is already a success.
"This is about hope. It is about the power of the scholarship. It is about real services to help students and families achieve the scholarships," said David Rust, executive director of Say Yes Buffalo.
The program provides college tuition for students living in the city and attending a Buffalo Public or charter school. 58% eligible students are attending college this fall.
Rust said that's 995-students that are now on 39-different campus with the help of Say Yes. Rust considers it a "great day for the community."
"And it is not if my kid will go to school, it's where," noted Rust.
Still, there is a 22% gap of eligible students not at school. But Rust emphasized that number will drop because there are students attending college at non-partnering schools.
"Because we know for a fact there's are students that went to partners that aren't in the SUNY or CUNY system that aren't one of our 41-partners," said Rust.
Robert Bennett, chancellor emeritus for the state Board of Regents, said Say Yes is already a "success."
"It's a very positive trend," said Bennett.
The program is helping to build support networks for students in terms of health, mental health and social service -- something Bennett says is "desperately" needed. But Bennett tells WBFO News -- Say Yes -- is NOT the only component that will turn around the Buffalo School District.
"I don't think it is the Say Yes responsibility, and I think they would agree to that, to turn the district around. That's the responsibility of an elected school board, the central office staff and the principals -- that's their job," said Bennett.
The program is expected to help boost the city school district's low graduation rates -- and officials believe its already working. Buffalo Schools Superintendent Pamela Brown is proudly boosting a 56% graduation rate.
"That is an increase of 8-percentage points over the graduation rate from the previous school year," said Brown.
The goal of Say Yes is to reach 100-percent students attending college, but this is this is just the first full-year students began the program after graduating from city schools.