e-Newsletter
July 16, 2014
Issue No.29
In This Issue
Upcoming Events & Key Dates

7/23 Proposals Due for Project 3B: PreK-3rd Grade Systems

7/29 Read To Succeed Work Team Meeting (Deep Dive 1)

8/14 Executive Committee Meeting

8/22 Proposals Due for Deep Dive 3: Community-School Partnerships 
Quick Links


About the Road Map Region Race to the Top Grant

In 2012, seven King County, Washington, school districts joined forces and won $40 million in federal Race to the Top funds over four years. The participating school districts are Auburn, Federal Way, Highline, Kent, Renton, Seattle and Tukwila. The districts dubbed themselves The Road Map District Consortium, a reference to their participation in the Road Map Project, a community-wide effort in South Seattle and South King County to drive major educational improvement with a focus on personalized learning.

Dear  ,
We are excited to report major regional support to help students "Stay Strong". In addition, the Executive Committee has approved an expansion of in-school SAT testing later this year. Finally, we are pleased to share that the STEM program at Seattle's Cleveland High School was featured in the Seattle Times Education Lab Blog.  
Regional Commitments, Resources, and Results Help Students "Stay Strong"
The Puget Sound Coalition for College and Career Readiness, established in 2010, has worked diligently to provide a seamless K-16 transition for students. The Coalition recently finalized and signed a Compact that commits to regional change in K-12 and postsecondary education. The Compact represents an unprecedented commitment to regional collaboration to broaden access to postsecondary success.

Over $10 million of the $40 million federal Race to the Top grant is dedicated to these "Stay Strong" efforts. The Executive Committee for the Road Map Region Race to the Top recently issued preliminary awards of $1.5 million in Investment Funds for Project 8 (College and Career Readiness) as part of the second round of awards to the seven districts participating in the Consortium. These awards included:
  • Auburn School District: Systematic Implementation of College and Career Readiness, $242,460
  • Federal Way: Academic Acceleration Support, $175,436
  • Highline Public Schools: On Track to College and Career Success, $225,182
  • Kent School District: Preparing College Bound and Career Ready Students $163,095
  • Renton School District: Implementation of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Ensuring Success through Support, $247,482
  • Seattle Public Schools: College Bound, $45,241 and Enhancing Applied STEM Learning and College Bound Scholarship Support, $162,209
  • Tukwila School District: Get Ready, Get Out, Get In, $246,314
For more information, please see the full press release.

SAT Expansion Planned for 2014-2015
The Road Map Region Race to the Top Executive Committee recently approved an expansion of in-school SAT to include 12th grade students in October 2014! 

Race to the Top funds have already been used to invest in in-school testing for students in 8th grade to take ReadiStep, in 10th grade to take the PSAT, and in 11th grade to take the SAT. This testing has been well-received by districts this year, who have noted a substantial increase in the number of students taking the SAT. There are a number of benefits to offering the test to seniors, including a chance to take the test if it was missed the year before, the opportunity to obtain a higher score, and to qualify for graduation.


Cleveland STEM Focus Featured in Seattle Times Education Lab Blog
The STEM program at Seattle's Cleveland High School was recently featured in the  Seattle Times Education Lab Blog.

The article noted that Cleveland High graduated about 89 percent of its senior class this June, compared to five years ago when only about half of students graduated on time. This outcome is attributed in large part to the school changing its approach to STEM education, one of the key components of Race to the Top. Since the school switched to a science orientation in 2010, students choose either a life sciences or engineering concentration. This new focus has resulted in related benefits, such as improvements in reading scores.

For more information, please see the article.

Congratulations to Cleveland High!


Please visit the Race to the Top Website!
Please remember to share the Road Map Region Race to the Top website with friends and colleagues! We regularly update content and add new resources. To access the website click here!

Stay Tuned!
Thank you for taking the time to read the Road Map Region Race to the Top grant e-newsletter! The next e-newsletter will be released later in August. Click "Join Our Mailing List" on the left to receive future e-newsletters!


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