College Success Foundation Programs
HERO Initiative (Higher Education Readiness Opportunity): Designed to increase high school retention and college readiness for under-represented youth with a special focus on men and men of color from economically disadvantaged families. Staff works with 7th-10th grade students who have the desire to go to college and the willingness to work hard and meet high expectations.
Governors' Scholarship for Foster Youth: Raises college awareness, readiness and mentoring supports for young people aging out of the foster care system. Designed specifically to help foster youth develop their academic skills and plans for success (e.g., how to enroll in college, connect with local resources and find financial means to make post-secondary education attainable).
College Bound Scholarship program: Guides low-income 7th and 8th graders on the path to a college education by offering the promise of tuition when the student reaches college age if the student keeps up his or her grades and stays crime-free.
CSF Scholars program: Employs a curriculum designed to guide students through the important steps between high school (11th and 12th grade) and college including admission testing, college ready academic assessments, financial aid processes, and other transitional processes vital to the smooth transition from high school to post-secondary opportunities.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
College Bound Scholarship Program: A Washington State scholarship created to provide financial assistance to low-income students who want to achieve the dream of a college education. Low-income 7th and 8th grade students who sign a pledge by June 30 of their 8th grade year are eligible. Students promise to graduate from high school, demonstrate good citizenship, and seek admission to a college or university.
College Success Foundation (CSF) has a statewide outreach program aimed at increasing and sustaining the number of districts, schools and community-based organizations successfully implementing effective sign-up and promotional efforts to eligible families. Working in concert with schools, counselors, teachers and youth serving professionals, CSF staff provides the tools, partnership and direct support needed to serve eligible families. To date, more than 84,000 students have applied for the College Bound Scholarship. The first cohort of College Bound students will graduate high school in 2012.