Grantees in the News
As College Tuition Increases, Finding Scholarships Gets Easier
It's possible to get a big chunk of tuition covered by scholarships if you start early and don't buy into myths. There are a lot of misconceptions about applying for college scholarships that keep many students from taking the first step.
Achieving Dreams at Renton Technical College
Reading Apprenticeship at Renton Technical College, an Achieving the Dream 2011 Leader College, increases students' success in understanding challenging and academic texts.
Tacoma Community College named education 'leader'
Tacoma Community College was recognized by Achieving the Dream as a 2011 Leader College for demonstrating sustained improvement and accomplishments on key student achievement indicators.
Using Data to Enlist Faculty Members in Strategic Enrollment Management
Yakima Valley Community College, an Achieving the Dream Leader College uses data to improve student outcomes and enlist faculty members in designing student success activities.
I-BEST named a Bright Idea by Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government
The Washington Community and Technical College system's I-BEST (Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training) program recently received a 2011 Bright Ideas award from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
A+ college-prep program: one on one, over and over
College Access Now, operating in three Seattle high schools, boasts an unheard-of success rate helping kids from low-income families in which nobody has gone to college get accepted into college.
Focus on success, strict policies help Rogers High transform
Changes in school policies at Rogers high school help improve student attendance, behavior and grades.
Undocumented Students and Higher Education in Washington: Barriers and Opportunities
A report written by Emily Koebnick, our intern for the summer of 2010 about the barriers undocumented students face to higher education.
Student-led conferences benefit parents, kids
Student-led conferences, a best practice promoted by Navigation 101 helps students take responsibility for their education and increase parent involvement through student-led conferences.
Summer-bridge classes help kids kick-start high school
5 1/2-week summer program helps incoming high school students prepare for high school.
Follow The Leader: Achieving the Dream Designates Exemplary Colleges
Yakima Valley Community College, a College Spark Achieving the Dream Grantee is named one of the eight Leader Colleges by Achieving the Dream.
Improvements to student orientation and access to mentor support at Yakima Valley Community College, a College Spark Achieving the Dream Grantee help students succeed.
Hilltop kids give voice to achievement gap study
Students at Peace Community Center, a College Spark Community Grants Grantee voice their opinions on the need for change; more mentors, access to scholarships, advanced college prep classes, parent involvement.
TCC preparing young black men for college
The Men of Distinction program at Tacoma Community College, a College Spark Achieving the Dream Grantee launches their summer program to enable young African American students pursue higher education. The program focuses on reading, writing and study skills. The goal is to continue tracking the students as they begin their college careers.
Average students shine with help from AVID program
AVID program helps students improve grades.
Alderwood Middle School, a College Spark Community Grants recipient launches a program to help low-income middle school students develop good homework habits and plan for college.
New college-ready help for McLoughlin Middle School
A southeast Washington collaboration between ESD 112, the Vancouver School District, and Southwest Washington Child Care Consortium and McLaughlin Middle School will use a College Spark Grant to launch an after-school college readiness program that will provide access to tutoring services, service learning projects, peer mentors and enrichment activities.
Three Puget-Sound area community colleges earn accreditation as baccalaureate institutions
South Seattle Community College, a College Spark Grantee, and Seattle Central Community College, an Achieving the Dream participating institution are among the community colleges in Washington that will now be offering Bachelor’s degrees.
Post Secondary Education AVID Pilot
Skagit Valley Community College, a College Spark Community Grants recipient, is one of three colleges in the nation piloting AVID for college students.
Completing college can be big challenge for nontraditional students
Three College Spark grantees, Yakima Valley Community College, Heritage University and Central Washington University, find innovative ways to serve nontraditional students.
School within a School: Lincoln's Bold Experiment
Lincoln High School, a participant in College Spark Washington's College Readiness Initiative, is piloting an innovative strategy to improve student success, featuring longer school days and personalized, intensive support for students.
Tacoma High School Putting Freshmen on the Road to Success
The transition from middle school to high school can be rocky for students. Studies show the high school dropout rate is directly related to how well students do in their freshman year. That's why Tacoma's Washington High School is grabbing freshmen who are teetering on the edge and pulling them back to success.
Residents Tell How to Improve Latino Education Opportunity
Yakima Valley Community College, was a part of a nationwide listening tour conducted by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans.
AVID Students on the Rise at School
In 2005 The Wenatchee School District launched a program to help students in middle school excel. Five years later the program is sustainable and making a difference for students.