Between now and the end of June, the Puget Sound College and Career Network (PSCCN) is leading a mini-campaign targeting high school students in the Road Map region - predominantly juniors and seniors - to build awareness of the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) and encourage them to complete the form. Unfortunately for many graduates, paying for college remains a major obstacle. Many graduating seniors are eligible for financial aid, but either don't know how to access it or get frustrated and abandon the process.

PSCCN also plans a broader FAFSA awareness campaign for this fall which will be aimed at a wide array of audiences, including school administrators, teachers, parents and community groups. The aim is to raise awareness of the FAFSA form and improve completion rates, which currently hover just around 40 percent. Boosting that figure will ensure more students gain access to important financial aid information and resources, and get the financial help they need to attend and finish college.

Anne Reece, principal at Highline's White Center Heights Elementary, was recently interviewed in Washington Principal to talk about how she engages students, families and the community where they live and learn.

White Center Heights is located in one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse communities of South Seattle. Its student body reflects this global community, drawing a diverse cross-section of students and families. Reece stresses that the voice of underrepresented students and families sometimes gets lost in diverse, low socio-economic schools. While school-based initiatives are necessary to better serve high needs and low socio-economic students (such as improving and personalizing instruction), community support is also crucial to empower parents and families to become actively involved. For more information, please see Educating a Global Community.

We hope you have enjoyed our last newsletter of the school year! Keep an eye out for a summer issue which will feature a new look for the newsletter and an emphasis on successful initiatives and plans to sustain them in the coming years. Until then, have a great June!

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