College Access & Support The 12th Year Campaign, Ready Set Grad, the Washboard.org Presented by Weiya Liang, Director, 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  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  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  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. 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 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.  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).  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 12 th grade student data.  Build a portal interface to share district level, individual student FAFSA completion data.  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 12 th 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  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

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 videos Student portfolio builder on about.me Counseling 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 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 Drop-down menu feature to look-up and compare AP and IB scores needed for credit at specific universities (July 2014). Dual Credit Look-Up Installation of Google Translate optimized for Spanish, Cambodian, Chinese (simplified), Korean, Laotian, Russian, Somali, and Vietnamese (June 2014). Language Translation Planning of statewide marketing campaign is underway. Campaign will target counselors & educators. Marketing Campaign

theWashboad.org

Scholarship search: theWashboard.org theWashBoard.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