e-Newsletter
August 27, 2014
Issue No.31
In This Issue
Upcoming Events & Key Dates

9/11 Executive Committee Meeting

9/15 White Center Education Initiative Meeting (Deep Dive 2)

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 pleased to share that preliminary awards for second-round funding have been issued for Project 3B (PreK-3rd Grade Systems)! A successful pilot event organized by Highline Public Schools and Kent School District helped College Bound Scholarship students prepare for fall college enrollment. Finally, we would like to note that the application deadline for the Deep Dive 3 Investment Fund (Develop Additional Community-School Partnerships) has been extended to January, 2015.

Preliminary Awards of $1.5 Million Issued for PreK-3rd Grade Systems Investment Fund
The Executive Committee for the Road Map Region Race to the Top grant issued preliminary awards of $1.5 million in Investment Funds for Project 3B (PreK-3rd Grade Systems) as part of the second round of awards to districts participating in the consortium. Five of the proposals were continuing or expanding from the first award process and two proposals were new.

Project 3B (PreK-3rd Grade Systems) supports and leverages district PreK-3rd grade action plans as developed through Project 3A, specifically with high-needs schools. The main goal is to significantly improve students' kindergarten readiness, early literacy, and math skills, resulting in successful students and the reduction of achievement gaps through: 1. building leadership capacity; 2. improving the instructional core; and 3. expanding the use of data and formative assessments to drive improvement.

A total of $3.9 million will be awarded through Project 3B (PreK-3rd Grade Systems) in three disbursements.  The first distribution of these funds totaled $1.1 million and the second distribution totaled $1.5 million. For more information on Project 3B and related work, please see our Start Strong page.

Pilot Event Supporting College Bound Students a Success!
On August 5th, 24 students from Highline Public Schools and Kent School District went to Highline College to get on track for fall enrollment.

The pilot event was organized for the purpose of bringing back College Bound Scholarship seniors who have recently graduated but not enrolled in a college this coming fall. (College Bound Scholarship students are required to enroll into a college within a year after graduating high school, or lose their scholarship). The event, which also included parents, enabled every student to complete FAFSA and/or the Highline College application. Generally by late summer, most students would not be able to access financial aid until winter quarter. However, Highline College was able to offer a scholarship for College Bound Scholarship students to start classes this fall. This work represents significant effort on the part of staff, calling to reach out to students during the summer months.

Congratulations to Highline and Kent!


Deadline for Deep Dive 3 Proposals Extended
In order to provide an opportunity for districts and community organizations to collaborate further in developing potential partnerships, the deadline to submit proposals for Deep Dive 3 (Investment Fund to Develop Additional Community-School Partnerships) has been extended to January, 2015.

Deep Dive 3 creates a fund that aims to raise student achievement by allowing additional models of community-school partnerships of regional significance. The projects are expected to produce examples, lessons learned and models. Please see the Deep Dive 3 page for previous award amounts and further information.


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 in September. Click "Join Our Mailing List" on the left to receive future e-newsletters!


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