Bridgeport Public Education Fund unveils 'Bridgeport Promise' scholarship, cites $1.5M startup
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Summary
The Bridgeport Public Education Fund presented the Bridgeport Promise Scholarship at the Board of Education meeting, saying the city allocated about $1.5 million in start-up funds and that private donors and colleges will support early cohorts; eligibility will include GPA, attendance and disciplinary standards.
Faith Villegas, representing the Bridgeport Public Education Fund, told the Bridgeport Board of Education that the nonprofit — founded in 1983 — has long supported teachers and students through grants, awards and programs and is launching a Bridgeport Promise Scholarship program to support high-school students’ college access.
Villegas said the city has allocated about $1,500,000 from ARPA and city funds to establish the program’s initial operation and that the fund is working with private donors and foundations to sustain it. “We are doing this with the help of donors, foundations, and sponsors,” Villegas said. She added that the fund did not ask the board for operating dollars and that the organization has already started fundraising and submitted grant applications.
Program details presented to the board include four pillars—academic excellence, consistent attendance, positive disciplinary record and residency/continuity in Bridgeport Public Schools. Villegas said the program will target a 3.0 GPA threshold and at least 90% attendance for eligibility. She also said the fund aims to begin scholarshipping the class of 2026 and support students through completion of a two- or four-year degree.
Board members asked questions about selection criteria, how many students the startup funding covers and whether the program will limit awards to Connecticut institutions. Villegas said three Connecticut colleges have committed $25,000 per year per student as part of partner agreements and that program partners also include additional institutions in active conversations. She described an initial budgeting assumption that the $1.5 million would cover roughly two cohorts (approximately $500,000 per cohort) while the fund builds a development office to raise ongoing support.
Villegas also described student supports the fund runs, including a long-running MAX math/mentoring program and a College Assistance Program aimed at closing tuition gaps for first-generation students. She cited program outcome metrics and said the organization had distributed more than $800,000 for textbooks, tuition and transportation over time.
The board’s discussion focused on transparency and operations: how the district and fund will export student eligibility data to partner colleges, where the fund’s website will be linked on district pages and how counselors will help identify eligible students. Villegas said a Feb. 15 target will be used to deliver preliminary candidate lists to partner institutions so scholarship offers align with college financial-award timelines.
The presentation closed with board members offering support and asking district staff to work with the fund on outreach and data processes. The board did not take formal action on the presentation itself; staff will follow up on technical integration and outreach steps.