Federal Way Collaboration Earns Dropout Prevention Grant From State

Federal Way Public Schools and a team of community partners are among 15 groups named by the State as recipients of the new Building Bridges grant. A total of $2 million have been awarded across the state with a goal of finding best practices to help keep children in school until they graduate.

The two-year, one-time grants from the Building Bridges program were established by the 2007 state Legislature and will be administered by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

“These grants will be indispensable in our quest to reach all kids,” said Terry Bergeson, state superintendent. “Too often these kids fall through the cracks, and without a diploma, their options for employment and for success in life are severely limited.”

Research shows that dropouts are more likely than graduates to get pregnant or get in trouble with the law, abuse drugs and alcohol, and suffer from mental health issues. They also rely more heavily on publicly funded health and social services.

The most effective strategies for helping dropouts and potential dropouts involve a coordinated effort, research also shows. Building Bridges is creating partnerships among schools, families and communities to provide:

• a system to identify students at risk of dropping out and offer timely solutions;
• coaches or mentors for students;
• staff responsible for coordinating supportive community efforts;
• activities encouraging dropouts to return to school; and
• alternative educational programming including technical education, college preparatory programs and online learning opportunities.

The Building Bridges grant process began in November, 2007. Eligible applicants included school districts, tribal schools, vocational skills centers and nonprofit organizations.

As part of the grant application process, applicants had to show a commitment to broad-based partnerships and demonstrate how a grant would enhance existing services designed to keep students in school. Federal Way Public Schools’ grant proposal outlines a systemic approach that involves collaboration with Highline Community College, the Boys and Girls Club, the South King County Multi-Service Center, Communities in Schools of Federal Way, Washington Service Corps and the district’s Internet Academy.   Preliminary work is underway and the program will begin serving students in the fall of 2008.

Fifteen of the original 35 applicants received grants and are now implementing their programs. Federal Way’s award for the first year, which concludes in June, 2008, is $62,500 plus $70,000 for special projects.  Continuation funding for year two is $125,000, bringing the total 18-month grant award to $257,500.  Grant recipients also have to provide 25 percent matching funds, develop a system for tracking and reporting data, and describe how their programs will sustain themselves financially.

OSPI has convened a work group of representatives from schools and from state agencies including researchers from Washington State University. Beginning in December, 2008, this group will evaluate the combined Building Bridges results and present annual reports to the governor and to the 2009 and 2010 Legislatures that include the best practices on dropout prevention emerging from the awarded programs.

In addition to Federal Way Public Schools, the following groups earned a Building Bridges grant:

• Communities in Schools of Seattle
• Communities in Schools of Tacoma
• Educational Service District (ESD) 112
• ESD 113
• ESD 121
• Ferndale School District
• Granite Falls School District
• Mt. Vernon School District
• Olympic Workforce Development Council (WDC)
• Pasco School District
• Snohomish WDC
• Suquamish Tribe
• Toppenish School District
• West Valley School District

April 15, 2008