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New Ready WA Video: #BridgeToCollege


Confidence, team work, critical thinking. A group of seniors at Mariner High School in Everett say that a particular class they took this year helped them build these skills and get ready for college.

In the final Ready Washington video of the school year, these students share how Bridge to College transition courses in math and English language arts help prepare them for success in college-level course work and avoid costly remedial classes.

Two Success Stories from Schools in Rural Counties

Schools in Southwest Washington are making promising changes to encourage more students to attend college. Learn more from two stories in the Seattle Times Education Lab. First, in Chehalis, only a fifth of students were getting four-year degrees, so the district made big changes.

"Until recently, Chehalis School District staff didn't realize that only 20 percent of their students went on to earn a four-year degree ... The surprisingly low figures shocked district officials into a slew of changes. That included talking frequently to students about the importance of college, as well as fundamental fixes in how teachers teach. 

"The district also has joined forces with the region's community college to help make sure Chehalis students who go there finish their degrees."

The second story is about a small high school in southwest Washington that saw all 43 seniors accepted to college this year:

"Statewide, less than a third of public high-school graduates finish a two- or four-year degree, a college certificate or apprenticeship within six years, according to the  Seattle-based business group Washington Roundtable.

"But at Onalaska last year, all but four of the 42 seniors got an acceptance letter from a two- or four-year college. This year, all 43 seniors were accepted, and 38 plan to go."
Featured Blog Post: Secrets to SBA Success


At Evergreen Heights Elementary in Auburn, all 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders completed their Smarter Balanced assessment for the year. How did staff create an environment where students felt excited and supported throughout the testing process? Washington Regional Teacher of the Year Alisa Louie blogged about some of her building's keys to success in a recent CORElaborate blog post:

"Success on the SBA, or any assessment, is a result of quality instruction of the Common Core State Standards. But I argue it's more than that. In my building, students have been successful with the Smarter Balanced Assessment because the staff is creating an exciting and supportive testing environment." 

Check out Alisa's full blog post here.
Tricia Kannberg's 5 Tips About Assessments

At Regal Elementary in Spokane, Principal Tricia Kannberg has implemented several strategies for supporting students and teachers through the Smarter Balanced assessments: professional development for teachers, positive support and encouragement for students, a shorter testing window and more.

Check out this new video from the Association of Washington Principals featuring Principal Kannberg's SBAC tips.
New Video: Career Connected Learning

A new video explores Career Connected Learning among business, community, and education leaders across the state. These leaders are collaborating to create pathways and opportunities for students through a continuum of real-world, workplace experiences. 

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Building awareness, understanding, and support for improving public education. 
Contact us:
Ingrid Stegemoeller , Communications Manager
Partnership for Learning 
(206) 625-9655