|
College Spark Washington announces nearly $1.6 million in community grants
College Spark Washington recently announced new grants totaling nearly $1.6 million through its Community Grants Program, focused on generating knowledge about how schools, colleges, and community-based organizations can help more low-income students achieve key milestones on the path towards college readiness and degree completion.
All organizations that receive Community Grants funding measure project impact with one or more of the following outcomes indicators:
- Increase the number of students who enroll in and pass Algebra by 8th grade
- Reduce the number of middle school students who trigger two or more of three early warning indicators (absences, suspension/expulsion, and course failure)
- Reduce the number of students who require developmental education (remedial coursework) in college
- Increase the number of students who earn their first college-level credits in math and English
"The work of these 12 grantees will help us all learn more about how to best remove barriers for low-income students, " says Steve Pumphrey, Chair of the College Spark Board of Trustees, "and we are pleased to partner with them to improve student success."
You can learn more about the Community Grants Program here, or email rachel@collegespark.org to register for an Introduction to Community Grants Program webinar on July 9, 2014. Since 2005, College Spark Washington has granted more than $40 million throughout Washington state, with $14 million directed to the annual Community Grants Program.
|
|
College Bound Scholarship Program: making a difference for low-income students
A recent evaluation of the College Bound Scholarship Program indicates that the program is having a positive impact on closing achievement and college enrollment gaps for low-income students. Students who sign up for the scholarship and attend schools implementing Navigation 101 are outperforming students who don't have the benefit of this guidance and counseling program. Learn more by reading about the evaluation in the Seattle Times Education Lab, or by reading the evaluation summary or the full report.
|
|
AVID: a report card
AVID, a major component of our College Readiness Initiative, has shown a positive impact on many of the outcomes that indicate students are on the path to college success. Gains were made on outcomes such as 8th grade Algebra, high school course-taking, and high school graduation rates. Learn more by checking out an infographic highlighting some of the key findings of our most recent evaluation of AVID, or by reading the full report.
|
|
College Spark announces new community leaders appointed to our Board of Trustees
College Spark Washington recently announced the election of two new trustees: Barb Richardson, Director of Interprofessional Education and Research at Washington State University College of Nursing and a longtime community volunteer in the Spokane area who previously served on the Spokane Public Schools Board of Directors; and Bernie Thomas, Lummi Indian Education Division Director and a tireless advocate for raising student achievement by closing opportunity gaps.
Three long-serving trustees are also retiring from the College Spark Board: Brian Benzel, Christie Querna, and Denny Hurtado, each of whom has assisted the foundation for nine years. "Brian, Christie, and Denny were fundamental to helping College Spark develop its strategies from the very start of our grant programs. Through their efforts, we've awarded $40 million to help low-income students be successful throughout the state." said Christine McCabe, Executive Director for College Spark.
|
