Press release:

The Road Map Project, which is aimed at driving major improvements in education results in South Seattle and South King County, is releasing the latest round of individual school district data collected by the Higher Education Coordinating Board on the Roadmap goal to get 100 percent of all eligible 8th graders in the project region signed up for the College Bound Scholarship by June 30 of this year. ( Click here to view.)

For the first time ever the region’s school districts are working collaboratively to increase the number of eligible students signed up for the scholarship which covers the cost of tuition at Washington’s public colleges and universities. Low-income students who sign a pledge to graduate from high school, demonstrate good citizenship and seek admission to a college or university by June 30 of their 8th grade year are eligible.

“To date, 72% of eligible 8th graders in the region have signed up,” reported Mary Jean Ryan, Executive Director of the Community Center for Education Results, which coordinates the Road Map Project. “The level of commitment and cooperation from school districts, teachers, community partners and elected officials has been incredible. That said, we still have progress to make. Working closely with College Success Foundation, we’re doing an all-out push to get the remaining 28% of students signed-up to take advantage of this amazing opportunity.”

Many partners have jumped in to help with the effort, including the Washington Education Association. “The College Bound Scholarship program provides hope for so many of our low-income students. As educators, Washington Education Association members know all students must be given every chance to go to college. With the rising cost of attending a public college, WEA members do not want to see the dreams of their students for a college education diminished or dashed. WEA will do all it can to support this program, so no child or parent has to worry about whether they can afford to attend a great Washington public college,” said Mary Lindquist, WEA President.

The Road Map region includes the following school districts: Auburn, Federal Way, Highline, Kent, Renton, South Seattle and Tukwila. To get more information and sign-up for the College Bound Scholarship, please visit: http://www.collegesuccessfoundation.org/collegebound. To visit the Higher Education Coordinating Board’s College Bound Scholarship page, please see: http://www.hecb.wa.gov/Paying/waaidprgm/CollegeBoundScholarship.asp

For more information contact:

Karen Waters, 206-334-0822 or karenw@strategies360.com