College Spark E-Newsletter

 

Think you know non-profits?   
Did you know that there are over 2 million non-profits in the U.S. today, generating more than $1 trillion and employing 1 in 10 U.S. workers? Watch a dynamic fact-filled 4 minute video, Know Your Sector, to learn more about non-profits.

 

SAVE THE DATES

 

NCAN Conference
September 12-14, 2011

St Louis, MO
This conference is an opportunity for you to join college access practitioners, researchers, and policy-makers to network with colleagues, participate in professional development workshops, and learn more about important issues in college access and success.
 
GEAR UP Northwest Regional Conference 

October 16-18, 2011
Portland, OR

Join college access program staff, teachers, counselors, policy makers, and community leaders at this conference to celebrate student and program successes, learn about best practices, and collaborate with colleagues.
 
2011 Bridge Conference: Connect. Act. Transform.

October 17-18, 2011
Seattle, WA

Hear about the current efforts of the Forum for Youth Investment and the Ready by 21� framework and have access to a nationally renowned leader in the field of afterschool and youth development!

 

College Spark Washington Degree Completion Convening

May 27, 2011
Seattle, WA

Learn how to use student data to measure the success of retention programs and guide development of student support strategies. Space is limited.

Contact [email protected] for more information.
 April 27, 2011
 
Announcing the 2011 Community Grants

We are pleased to announce the fourteen award recipients for our 2011 Community Grants program. This year's grantees have proposed an array of projects and innovative strategies that are aligned with our mission to help low-income students become college-ready and complete their degrees.

Funding for the 2011 grants will total over $1.2 million.


Our 2012 Community Grants Request-for-Proposals will be available in September. Please register on our website for further details and contact Bob Conroy if you have questions about the upcoming grant cycle.
Aspirations to Action
Aspirations to Action is a comprehensive, electronic library of workshops, lessons, resources and assessment tools for anyone interested in providing key information to students in order for them to be college-ready. Created by the Washington College Access Network and organized around the three broad college access concepts of awareness, preparation, and financial literacy, Aspirations to Action walks grades 7-10 students through the step-by-step process of turning their Aspirations into effective Action.
Achieving the Dream
Ten new Washington community colleges joined Achieving the Dream, a national initiative focused on helping more low-income community college students succeed.
College Readiness Initiative Rigor Grants Awarded 
Ten of the school districts implenting AVID and Navigation 101 with grants from the College Spark College Readiness Initiative will receive additional funds to help more students take and succeed in rigorous high school courses through strategies like vertical team training, extended school-day for struggling AP students, early placement testing, and dual credit programs.
Training Mentors
With the support of a grant from College Spark, Washington Campus Compact created several mentor training modules designed to increase mentor effectiveness and strengthen mentoring programs. To learn more, contact Washington Campus Compact or peruse a few of the modules: Effective Mentoring, Partnership Development, Group Facilitation,  and Assessment Evaluation.
Want to get involved with a coalition?
Opportunities abound. Join the Washington State College Access Network or the Excellent Schools Now Coalition to work with a diverse group of education stakeholders dedicated to meaningful education reform.
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