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Evolve502 reports scholarship growth, community learning hubs and workforce credentials to JCPS board
Summary
Evolve502 leaders told the board the last‑dollar Promise scholarship has enrolled thousands of recent JCPS graduates and that community learning hubs and opportunity grants are expanding supports.
Leaders from Evolve502 updated the Jefferson County Board of Education on March 18 about the nonprofit’s Promise scholarship and comprehensive student supports.
What Evolve502 told the board: Marlon Cole introduced the organization’s work, describing Evolve502 as a public‑private partnership focused on raising post‑secondary educational attainment. Sarah Chabon, director of scholarship and student success, said the Evolve502 Promise is a last‑dollar scholarship that covers up to two years (60 credit hours) at Kentucky community college partners after federal and state aid is applied. Chabon said students must complete the FAFSA; lower‑income students can receive an "opportunity grant" of $1,100 per semester for non‑tuition needs and access a book stipend and emergency funds.
Program scale and results: Chabon and Charles Davis said since 2021 more than 2,300 JCPS students have used the Promise program and that 2,400 students had applied in the current cycle for the class of 2025 (application window open through July 15). Evolve502 reported 769 students had earned workforce credentials and 48 students had earned associate degrees as of October 11, 2024. Charles Davis said Evolve502’s community learning hubs register students for after‑school tutoring (the organization reported reaching nearly 10,000 students per year across partners) and cited a 7% increase, in 2023‑24, of students meeting growth projections between fall and spring among regular hub attendees.
Why it matters: The Promise scholarship removes a financial barrier for many graduates and pairs funding with student support coaches and community‑based tutoring that Evolve502 said improves fall‑to‑spring growth for participating students.
Board response: Board members thanked Evolve502 and asked clarifying questions about reach and early‑childhood connections. Evolve502 said it is exploring ways to extend services earlier in the cradle‑to‑career continuum and will work with city initiatives focused on early childhood.
