Peninsula College was recently awarded a $150,000 College Spark Washington Community Grant to help low-income students become college-ready and successfully transition to college.
The annual, competitive statewide Community Grants Program focuses on building the effectiveness of grantees working with low-income students in middle, high school and college by funding new and promising practices that help students be college-ready and transition successfully to college.At Peninsula College, the grant will help low-income students complete their first college-level math and English courses more quickly by utilizing a flipped classroom model infused with an array of high-level student supports.
“Peninsula College is very pleased to be one of only 12 grantees in the state of Washington to receive this highly competitive grant,” says Peninsula College President Dr. Luke Robins.
“The College Spark funded High-Support Accelerated Learning Project allows us to further our strategic goal of maximizing student access to higher education by allowing us to develop and enhance innovations aimed at helping students succeed in pre-college English and Math. Our goal is for them to advance more quickly and more successfully into college-level classes.”
Bruce Hattendorf, Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences at Peninsula College, added: “Peninsula College and our Math and English Divisions are excited to embark upon this project and are thankful for the opportunities the College Spark Grant will offer to our students. Through enhanced use of a “flipped classroom” approach, instructors will use class time for hands-on learning and more individualized support. Adding a lab hour to these classes will provide additional time to address study skills and academic planning, two key elements of future college success.”
This year’s 12 grantees will measure results using at least one of the four following indicators of future college success:
• Eighth Grade Algebra: Increasing the number of students who take and pass Algebra by the eighth grade.
• Early Warning Indicators: Decreasing the number of middle school students who trigger two of three early warning indicators: five or more absences per semester; course failure; suspension or expulsion.• Remedial Education: Decreasing the number of students who require remedial education in college.
• College Math and English: Increasing the number of students who earn their first college-level credit in English or math.
“We are supporting organizations across the state working hard and making progress on postsecondary access, persistence and completion rates for low-income students,” said Christine McCabe, Executive Director at College Spark Washington. “These grantees will be tracking their results and sharing what works.”
Since 2005 College Spark Washington’s Community Grants Program has awarded more than 100 Community Grants totaling $14 million.
To see a full list and descriptions of grantees visit the 2014 Community Grantees web page.
College Spark Washington funds programs across Washington state that help low-income students become college-ready and earn their degrees. Grantees include community-based organizations, K-12 schools and districts, community and technical colleges, four-year colleges and universities, educational nonprofits, and public agencies.
College Spark began supporting access to higher education in 1978 and, since 2005, has awarded more than $38 million to college readiness and degree completion programs throughout the state.
