The Birmingham Promise will only be made possible by generous folks like you. Please donateto make success a greater possibility for Birmingham students.
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The Birmingham Promise will create new career and college opportunities for graduates of Birmingham City Schools. It will also help meet the workforce needs of Birmingham’s current and future employers. The program has two tracks:
Tuition Assistancethat covers college costs for Birmingham high school graduates.
Apprenticeships that provide Birmingham high school students with jobs and career experience to prepare them for post-graduation career opportunities.
As a first step, Birmingham City School graduates of the Class of 2020 are now eligible to apply for apprenticeships and scholarships.
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The Birmingham Promise will give our graduates better opportunities and tools for success and help our businesses meet their workforce needs now and into the future. Based on other cities' experience, The Birmingham Promise could...
Increase Birmingham City Schools' enrollment, which would increase state funding.
Lead to higher graduation rates.
Lower racial disparities in student success.
Lead to overall population growth for Birmingham.
Birmingham Promise scholarships will pay for tuition and mandatory fees at Alabama’s public two-year and four-year colleges and universities. The amount will be determined after other financial aid has been applied. As a recipient of a Birmingham Promise scholarship, you may also receive additional support services depending on your individual needs. You will be connected with a success coach who will work to identify and meet those needs.
You must first complete the federal financial aid process at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa. This will allow you to see whether you qualify for other scholarships and grants. Once that assistance has been determined, you can apply for Birmingham Promise at http://uweb1.unitedwayeservice.org/promise. March 1 is the deadline for the FAFSA application and for the Birmingham Promise application.
There is no initial grade requirement to receive a Birmingham Promise scholarship. Your GPA can, however, affect your admission to certain colleges. Alabama’s two-year colleges have open-enrollment policies and no minimum grade requirements. You should check grade requirements at other campuses as you go through the college application process.
Once in college, Birmingham Promise students will need to maintain acceptable grades to keep receiving tuition assistance. Those requirements are being developed and will be released soon.
Birmingham Promise scholarships cover tuition and mandatory fees at Alabama’s public two-year and four-year colleges and universities. However, as a recipient of a Birmingham Promise scholarship, you may also receive additional support services depending on your individual needs. You will be connected with a success coach who will work to identify and meet those needs.
Birmingham Promise scholarships are available to graduates of Birmingham City Schools, starting with the Class of 2020. The Birmingham Promise is a new program in its initial developmental stages. We are excited about the future of Birmingham and our students. We are currently working with the private and public sector to raise the necessary funds and to create a framework to ensure the Promise will benefit students for generations to come.
To be eligible, students must:
If you have questions about your residency and eligibility status for Birmingham Promise, please contact your school guidance counselor.
Birmingham Promise will cover undergraduate tuition expenses for up to four years in a public Alabama college or university.
Birmingham Promise scholarships can be used at any public two-year and four-year colleges in Alabama. Students must follow the normal college application process and be accepted by the school in order to receive tuition assistance from Birmingham Promise.
Here is a list of public colleges in Alabama:
Two year campuses include:
The class of 2020 should be working NOW to complete the federal financial aid process (https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa) and the college application process. After completing the FAFSA process, students can apply for Birmingham Promise at http://uweb1.unitedwayeservice.org/promise. March 1 is the deadline to complete the FAFSA application and the Birmingham Promise application.
If you need help filling out the FAFSA application, here are some great resources: http://alabamapossible.org/programs/cash-for-college/cash-for-college-students/ and https://www.educationquest.org/resources/fafsa-tools/.
For the class of 2020, any students enrolled in Birmingham City Schools at the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year can receive a scholarship if they meet all other requirements.
Enrollment requirements for future classes are being evaluated.
No. Birmingham Promise scholarships cover tuition and mandatory fees for up to four years at the undergraduate level.
As long as you can maintain your military service and meet Birmingham Promise eligibility requirements, you can receive tuition assistance. To receive a Birmingham Promise scholarship, you must be enrolled as a full-time student in a public Alabama college or university, and your college enrollment must begin no later than January following your high school graduation. If you are eligible for tuition assistance and can maintain full-time college enrollment in Alabama, military service will not keep you from receiving a Birmingham Promise scholarship.
First, complete the federal financial aid process. Click here to see whether you qualify for other funds. This will determine your eligibility to apply for Birmingham Promise tuition assistance. Need help with FAFSA? Click here or here for assistance.
Sign up for updates to stay in the know as Birmingham Promise releases more on the application process, important deadlines, and other information.
The Class of 2020 should be working NOW to complete FAFSA and the college application process.
After you've completed the prerequisite steps, you may apply for tuition assistance here.
An apprenticeship is a paid, on-the-job learning experience that is matched with classroom lessons. Students earn $15 an hour on the job and also receive academic credit.
11th- and 12th-graders in Birmingham City Schools who have a 2.0 GPA, are on track to graduate, and whose schedule allows them to complete the necessary work hours. Students are selected for apprenticeships through an application and interview process.
Birmingham Promise apprenticeships offer experience in four industries: healthcare and life sciences; energy and engineering; finance and business; and digital technology.
Students must be able to work multiple hours a week. The precise schedule will be determined by employers and schools.
Students are selected for apprenticeships through an application and interview process. Your interests and goals are part of the application process, but there is no guarantee you will get a particular job.
The program is available only to Birmingham City Schools 11th- and 12th-graders who live in the city.
An apprenticeship does not guarantee you a job after high school, but work experience can improve your chances of being hired in the future. In some cases, students may earn career-specific credentials that will allow them to qualify for jobs immediately after high school.
Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA, as verified by Birmingham City Schools.
There are two application periods during the year – one for the fall semester and one for spring semester. The applications are available during those times at www.bhamyouthfirst.org. Students must also submit a resume, two recommendations and a 250-500-word essay.
There are two application periods during the year – one for the fall semester and one for spring semester. The fall application is now closed.
Students will need to submit a resume, two recommendations and a 250-500-word essay.
Prepare yourself for a successful career and improve your chances of being hired in the future.
The Birmingham Promise will only be made possible by generous folks like you. Please donateto make success a greater possibility for Birmingham students.
Support Birmingham PromiseThe Birmingham Promise is a group of change makers who want Birmingham City School graduates to be able to attend public two or four year Alabama colleges tuition free.
As a first step, Birmingham City School graduates of the class of 2020 are now eligible to apply for apprenticeships and scholarships.
Join the movement to help us ensure that future classes can also benefit from this exciting opportunity. Click here to donate.
The Birmingham Promise is an investment in Birmingham's youth, which means it's an investment in our city's future.
The program includes apprenticeships and tuition assistance to set students up for great success without the strain of debilitating student debt.
With your support, the Birmingham Promise will work to increase state funding for city schools, increase graduation rates, lower racial disparities, and grow our population.