college access & support the 12th year campaign, ready set grad, the washboard.org presented by...
TRANSCRIPT
College Access & Support
The 12th Year Campaign, Ready Set Grad, the Washboard.org
Presented by Weiya Liang, Director, College Access & Support
Agenda
Overview of the 12th Year Campaign American College Application Campaign
College Goal Washington
Overview of ReadySetGrad.org
Overview of the Washboard.org
Q & A
12th Year Campaign Background
American College Application Campaign
National initiative designed to increase the number of first-generation and low-income students who pursue postsecondary education.
WSAC ran two pilots in 2012 and 2013.
Pilots took place in Washington State GEAR UP schools and in South King County via the Roadmap to College efforts.
College Goal Washington
Part of a national program that helps students and families complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
Administered by Northwest Education Loan Association (NELA) from 2007-2013.
With NELA’s closure, WSAC became the administrating agency in fall 2013.
12th Year Campaign
By combining the American College Application Campaign and College Goal Washington into the 12th Year Campaign, we:
Link the college application and financial aid processes.
Contribute to the state’s goal of ensuring 70% of adults have a postsecondary credential.
College Application Components
Campaign runs October 13 – November 14, 2014
Activities include:
Discover U events: All school staff wear college gear,
educators will share their education/career pathways and every student participates in a 10-15 minute college/career exploration activity.
College exploration, preparation, application activities.
Participating sites will…
Receive a site lead workbook with suggested activities, and a student workbook.
Provide a dedicated space and staff support for completing applications.
Administer a post-campaign student survey to measure what students worked on during the month.
College Goal Washington Components
Campaign runs January & February, 2015
Activities include: On-site FAFSA completion events.
Participating sites will…
Host an on-site FAFSA event.
Receive FAFSA and Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) training for event volunteers.
Connect with financial aid experts (local college and university staff).
FAFSA Completion Initiative
New SAIG agreement signed with the US Department of Education.
Ready to share FAFSA completion data with school districts.
Working with OSPI on a data sharing agreement to get 12th grade student data.
Build a portal interface to share district level, individual student FAFSA completion data.
12th Year Campaign
Why sign-up?
Receive WSAC materials, including new ideas to support college application and FAFSA completion.
Access a network of financial aid professionals.
Build and enhance connections with college staff.
12th Year Campaign
How do I sign-up?
Contact Anna Batie, WSAC Program Associate for Outreach, for a 12th Year Interest Form ([email protected]). Site lead training for the American
College Application Campaign will take place via webinar in late September.
Site lead training for College Goal Washington will take place via webinar in late October.
Ready Set Grad
Background
•Finding information is easy, but finding relevant and trustworthy information is not.
Information Needs
•Web portal should augment, not replace, existing services offered by schools, institutions and agencies.
Support Integration
•Creating, maintaining, and supporting a higher education and career planning web portal will be a significant task and will not be a one-time effort.
Commitment
www.readysetgrad.org
Ready Set Grad
Students, families, and educators
planning for the next step after high school.
Timeline management tool
Updates and deadline reminders
Inspirational and instructional videosStudent portfolio
builder on about.meCounseling and financial literacy curriculum for
educators
Timeline Management
Almost in high school• Different types of
postsecondary institutions• Career planning – what are
your strengths and skills?• Transition to high school
Get ready• September – August
calendar of preparation activities
• Choosing a college• FAFSA4Caster
Returning to school• Residency & citizenship• Workforce Board’s Career
Bridge link• Career, transfer planning,
and military info
Updates & Reminders
Students and families may receive updates about events and deadlines.
College Bound Sign-up
College Application Week and College Goal Washington events
SAT/ACT dates
College admission and financial aid deadlines
Planning Tools & Resources
For Educators
Many of the programs and initiatives that would previously have been found on the Council site are now housed on Ready Set Grad.
Upcoming Content Additions
Dual Credit Look-Up
• Drop-down menu feature to look-up and compare AP and IB scores needed for credit at specific universities (July 2014).
Language Translation
• Installation of Google Translate optimized for Spanish, Cambodian, Chinese (simplified), Korean, Laotian, Russian, Somali, and Vietnamese (June 2014).
Marketing Campaign
• Planning of statewide marketing campaign is underway. Campaign will target counselors & educators.
theWashboad.org
Scholarship search: theWashboard.orgtheWashBoard.org in a nutshell
• Matches scholarships to your interests and goals
• Students’ private information is kept confidential
• Web-based, so you can use it at school, at the library, or at home
• Serves all ages of students• No spam or ads• Free resource for Washington students
or residents attending college outside of Washington
Contact Us.
Weiya Liang, Director
College Access & Support
360-753-7884