FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- April 23, 2009

School districts endorse College Bound Scholarship program as deadline nears

     OLYMPIA—School districts across Washington are passing resolutions and holding special sign up events to support the College Bound Scholarship program as this year’s deadline approaches for eligible middle-school students to make College Bound Scholarship pledges.

     About 28,000 students have signed up for the College Bound Scholarship program, which is administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB). This includes 17,000 students who signed up during the 2007-08 school year, as well as 11,000 who have signed up in the current year, which began in July 2008. However, nearly 63,000 additional students statewide are eligible for the program this year.

     The program offers eligible middle school students college tuition and a $500 book stipend if they meet the income standard upon graduation from high school and fulfill the pledge to work hard in school, maintain good citizenship, and enroll in a postsecondary education program after graduation.  The first group of College Bound students who signed up last year will receive scholarship money in 2012.  

     The program is open to seventh and eighth grade students who are foster children or whose families meet the income requirements for the federal Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program.  In 2008-09 only, ninth graders who were eighth graders last year and who meet the eligibility requirements also can sign up. The deadline is June 30.  

     “The children who will fill our state’s best jobs in the years to come need to prepare now to succeed in college,” said HECB Executive Director Ann Daley. “The College Bound Scholarship program offers low-income families a pathway for achieving the dream of a college education for their children.”

     In February, Gov. Chris Gregoire sent a letter to local school board presidents, urging them to help raise awareness among students and school staff about the program’s potentially life-changing opportunities.

     Since then, school districts that have adopted resolutions supporting the program include Bremerton, South Kitsap, Kennewick, Camas, Vancouver, Newport, North Thurston, East Valley (Spokane), Yakima, Centralia, Lake Stevens, and Highline.

     Other districts are encouraging sign ups by holding special events in partnership with the HECB and the College Success Foundation (CSF).  In March, Tacoma Public Schools, the Metropolitan Development Council and CSF held a sign up event that drew approximately 1,000 people and resulted in nearly 300 sign ups.

     Other events planned in coming weeks:

• Saturday May 2, Vancouver Public Schools.
  Clark College, Gaiser Hall, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way,
  9-10 a.m.

• Thursday, June 4, Lake Stevens School District. Cavalero Mid High, 8220 24th Street SE, Everett,
  5:30 p.m.  

• Saturday, June 6, Seattle Public Schools.
  Seattle University, Campion Ballroom, 9-11 a.m.

     To apply online, read a Q&A, or obtain other information about the College Bound Scholarship program, visit the HECB website at www.hecb.wa.gov/collegebound.

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For more information: Gary Larson

(360) 753-7817 or garyl@hecb.wa.gov