“It is pleasing to see Tacoma again lead the state in College Bound Scholarship sign ups. The positive results with THA’s part of this effort strengthen our view that a public housing authority has an important contribution to make to school success.” - Michael Mirra Executive Director, Tacoma Housing Authority
Ninety percent of Tacoma’s low-income eighth graders – a higher percentage than most other communities in the state – have signed up for Washington state’s College Bound Scholarship (CBS) program. The program, created in 2008 by the Washington State Legislature, promises full, four-year college scholarships to allow eligible low-income state students to afford college.
In contrast, across the state, just 68 percent of eligible students signed on to the scholarship program.
Tacoma’s high numbers came about because of a dedicated enrollment effort spearheaded by the Tacoma School District in partnership with other organizations, the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board, the College Success Foundation, Metropolitan Development Council, Tacoma Community College and the Tacoma Housing Authority. In the spring of 2007 and 2008, these organizations coordinated their efforts. This included the Tacoma is College Bound event. Hundreds of eligible students and their families attended. The event gave them the opportunity to receive answers to their questions and to sign up on the spot. This event was held again 2010.
The Tacoma Housing Authority (THA) resolved on its own efforts to help enroll as many as possible of the eligible students who live in its housing programs. Doing so is an important part of THA’s Education Project, which is funded in large part by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This project seeks to help the children THA houses succeed in school and to help improve the outcomes of neighborhood schools.
In the 2008-2009 school year Tacoma and THA led the state enrollment efforts. The percentage sign up among students living in THA housing was even higher than the city percentage. Tacoma and THA led the state for the 2009-2010 year, again. The estimated numbers and percentages for both school years for the state, the city, and THA are as follows:
THA has issued a report assessing its enrollment efforts over the past two years. The report is entitled, Tacoma Housing Authority’s Effort To Enroll Its Students In Washington State’s College Bound Scholarship Program during School Years 2008-2009 & 2009-2010: An Assessment of a Public Housing Authority’s Ability to Promote Education (THA October 27, 2010). A copy of the report is available at
www.tacomahousing.org.
“This outstanding outcome in Tacoma is attributable to the incredible partnership among the many community agencies that came together to support these students,” said Steve Thorndill, Director of Scholarship Services for the College Success Foundation. Dr. Arthur Jarvis, Superintendent of Tacoma Public Schools, commented, “The partnership between Tacoma Public Schools and the Tacoma Housing Authority has been very powerful for our students. Assuring all students are ready for college and/or careers is one of our highest priorities, and working with THA builds the power of both agencies to achieve that goal.”
To qualify for the College Bound Scholarship, students must graduate from a high school with least a 2.0 GPA, demonstrate good citizenship and stay crime free. The amount of the scholarship is based on the tuition (at public college rates) not covered by other financial aid, plus $500 each year for books. The scholarship can be used at a Washington public community, technical, or four-year college; an approved, accredited independent college or university; or a private career school. To be eligible, however, students and their parents must also sign up for the program before the end of the 8th grade school year. Each year, 7th and 8th graders can sign up.