WHAT’S NEW IN COLLEGE BOUND October 15, 2013

1. Washington Student Achievement Council WHAT’S NEW IN COLLEGE BOUND October 15, 2013

2. Agenda College Bound Overview What’s New Marketing Resources Future Innovations Data Washington Student Achievement Council

3. Who is eligible to apply? Students must meet ONE of these requirements to apply: • Eligible to receive free- or reduced-price lunch orreceive basic food/TANF benefits. • Are a foster youth or dependent of the state. • Family’s income falls within the guidelines. Washington Student Achievement Council Sign up in 7th or 8th grade • Deadline is June 30 at the end of the 8th grade year. • Students only need to sign up once. • Note: Family income from the student’s senior year will be used to verify financial eligibility for the Scholarship.

4. Student Pledge and Certificate Students promise to: • Do well in middle school and high school, and graduate with a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.0 or higher. • Be a good citizen and not be convicted of a felony. • Apply for financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during the senior year of high school. When a complete application is on file at the Council, students receive a certificate in the mail. Washington Student Achievement Council

5. There are 68 colleges and universities in Washington state participating in the College Bound Scholarship program. Washington Student Achievement Council

6. Program growth The number of eligible students has grown by 29% since College Bound began in 2007 • 2007-08: 28,200 students eligible • 2012 -13: 36,400 students eligible The percentage of students who have signed up has also grown • 2007-08 57% (16,000) • 2012-13 80% (30,000) Paper Applications vs. Online • 2007-08: 46% online, 54% paper (9,120) • 2012-13: 27% online, 73% paper (21,300) Washington Student Achievement Council

7. 151,600 Applications 2007 to 2013 Eligible Students (free/reduced price lunch) Washington Student Achievement Council TBD* 80% 79% 77% 79% 77% 70% 70% 56% 56% *Preliminary numbers as cohort deadline has not passed and/or applications being processed.

8. What’s New Washington Student Achievement Council

9. Online application changes • Screens easier to read and process is quicker – for all • Student addresses will be verified by USPS database • Counselors will now be able to print the Signature Letter • If students are not eligible (grade and/or income)they won’t be able to apply • Dual tracking by you and by the Council Washington Student Achievement Council

10. More changes • Counselor begins the online application- only 2 screens! • Counselor prints Signature Page and gives to studentwith CB brochure and instructions to: • Get signatures (student & parent/guardian) • Ask parent/guardian to check income box • Counselor may ask students to return completed forms to him and then the counselor may send them to the Council or • Ask the student to forward the completed form to the Council Complete application must by received by WSACby June 30 at the end of the student’s 8th grade year Washington Student Achievement Council

11. Washington Student Achievement Council

12. Washington Student Achievement Council

13. Washington Student Achievement Council

14. Changes to follow-up process Incomplete Applications Council will send Missing Information Letters (MILs) quarterlyto families; family receives three Council will send you monthly a batch of MILs • Students indicated on the application they attend your school • We ask you to track down the students to complete the application Return completed forms to the Council • You collect them from the students and mail them to the Council (preferred) • You ask the student to mail it to us Washington Student Achievement Council

15. Benefits New online application • Fast, user-friendly, accurate, and safe (less likely that applications will be lost/misplaced) Follow-up process • Counselor and the Council will now track students • Frequent batching and quarterly mailings will improve the chances that applications will meet the deadline Use with other strategiesto maximize results • OSPI’s Disclosure Agreement to access names of FRPL students • The Council’s secure portal to track numbers • Start early • More than 50% of this year’s 8th grades students signed up as 7th graders! Washington Student Achievement Council

16. A year of transition You may still download a paper application from our website. • Available in 11 languages • If this is a financial burden, this year we will send one order of paper applications per school You may merge Word version of paper applications with names and contact information of FRPL students • Must complete OSPI’s Agreement first • Process that has been used effectively for several years • Tutorial available on the merging process Washington Student Achievement Council

17. Marketing College Bound Washington Student Achievement Council

18. Paper applications as a marketing tool • Twice as many paper applications (40,000+) were printed last year than received suggesting that they were used as promotional pieces instead of actual applications. • Distributing paper applications is not an efficient or effective way to sign up students. Washington Student Achievement Council

19. What works? • Start early • Identify students who are eligible for FRPL by using OSPI’s Disclosure Agreement • Team up with another teacher/counselor • Contact students &families: • Parent Conferences • Letter home from superintendent or principal • Orientation/new student packets • Small group meetings to discuss the importance of continuing beyond high school • Gain portal access to track your students Washington Student Achievement Council

20. Marketing/Promotion materials Brochures & one-page flyers • Orientation/new student packets, school events Posters & Pencils – • Program posters with a place for counselor’s contact info so students know you are the CBSgo-to-person at your school • Good! Better!! Best!!! Academic planning poster All materials are free – • Please allow 2 weeks for delivery • In Spanish and English Washington Student Achievement Council

21. RESOURCES Washington Student Achievement Council

22. Brochures Washington Student Achievement Council

23. Posters Washington Student Achievement Council

24. Students can prepare for college Washington Student Achievement Council

25. CSF Program Officers Washington Student Achievement Council

26. Partner with us What we can do for you: • Questions about applications, to order materials: Mallory Byrdmalloryg@wsac.wa.gov(360)596-4813 • Questions about portal access, data, transcripts: Christina Richmondchristinar@wsac.wa.gov(360)596-4805 • Other program questions: Beth Ahlstrombetha@wsac.wa.gov(360)596-4808 What you can do for us: • If you are the coordinator for College Bound at your school, please email us your contact information: collegebound@wsac.wa.gov • Forward your marketing and promotion suggestions to us. • Join our Listserv by sending your email to: collegebound@wsac.wa.gov Washington Student Achievement Council

27. FUTURE INNOVATIONS Washington Student Achievement Council

28. Counselor Tool Box Ability to upload names of FRPL students • Similar to mail merge currently used – fast & easy Progress Bar • Will show the status of applications by grad year - complete, incomplete and ineligible Printing capability • Will allow you to print Signature Pages & certificates when application is complete Edit student info • Incorrect name/address? Wrong SSID? You can make the changes! Track events • Did your student receive a certificate? How many Signature Pages did she receive? Now you will know! Washington Student Achievement Council

29. COLLEGE BOUNDBY THE NUMBERS Washington Student Achievement Council

30. CBS high school graduation rates are strong Students not eligible for Free and Reduced Price Lunch (FRPL) who did not apply for the College Bound Scholarship have the highest graduation rate (2012). The rate for CBS students is 19 percentage pointshigher than their low-income peers who did not apply. Washington Student Achievement Council

31. Tacoma Public Schools Washington Student Achievement Council

32. Total CBS Enrollments: 2012 –13 7,910students enrolled • 4,690 received scholarship • 2,566 attend SNG campus without CBS award • Family income above cutoff • Other state aid covers maximum award • 592 attended out-of-state • 69 in-state non-SNG campus Washington Student Achievement Council

33. Want more information? Contact College Bound Staff 1-888-535-0747collegebound@wsac.wa.gov Websites www.collegebound.wa.govwww.readysetgrad.org Washington Student Achievement Council