Rhino Times breaks the story; N&R follows up and then editorializes:

More than 2,000 Guilford County students began post-secondary education this academic year with financial help from the new Say Yes to Education program.

That marked success beyond organizers’ expectations. And above their financial means.

The program spent $6 million for those students, Say Yes leaders said Thursday — about six times more than what was anticipated. Continuing at that level of spending would be ruinous, so cuts — still to be specified — will be implemented.

This is terribly disappointing news, but it shouldn’t overshadow the positive impact this very ambitious effort can and will have.

A couple of things here–Say Yes communications director Donnie Turlington—formerly the City of Greensboro’s communication communications and marketing director–made a pretty startling admission—that “he was not aware of any other Say Yes chapters ever experiencing a similar situation of being so far apart in model and payout reality.” Seems to me that speaks volumes about the people in charge of Guilford County’s chapter.

Another thing–the editorial adds:

Unchanged is the commitment to add “wraparound” services to K-12 education — counseling, legal aid, tutoring and other assistance aimed at helping students succeed all the way through school so they’re prepared for college. This requires local governments and nonprofit organizations to support the schools in cooperative, efficient ways.

That’s been the biggest sticking point, in my opinion. How about Say yes quits worrying about so-called ‘wraparound services’ and just worry about the money, which is by the biggest obstacle to students seeking higher education. If students are motivated enough to seek scholarship to pay for the (criminally) high cost of college, then “wraparound services” will take care of themselves.