9th Grade: A Critical Year for Students

Students go from 8th grade to a bigger pond: high school. Classes are in different rooms with different teachers. Students have new schedules, a new culture and more. It can be overwhelming and scary. In addition to the mental and emotional adjustments, educationally, 9th grade is a crucial year for a high school’s newest students. Ninth graders who pass all their classes are 3x more likely to graduate on time. 

For the last several years, Stand for Children Washington has highlighted the critical importance of 9th grade and the need for evidence-based strategies to support student success. We advocated for Washington state to invest in these supports, including the creation of the Ninth Grade Success Initiative at OSPI.

The Ninth Grade Success Initiative is now in 53 schools across 37 school districts (from an initial pilot in 5 districts in 2019-2020). Schools are reporting year-over-year increases in Ninth Grade On-Track rates! This is confirmed/validated by independent evaluators who found that compared to similarly situated comparison schools, schools with the Ninth Grade Success Initiative had nearly 7% higher Ninth Grade On-Track rates. If implemented statewide, a 7% increase in on track rates would result in an additional 9,000 students graduating each year. 

This means 9,000 more Washingtonian’s can begin their postsecondary aspirations and can become the leaders of tomorrow.

As WA lawmakers deliberate funding priorities, we have an opportunity to demand that they act now to support 9th graders and ensure our students are graduating on-time. The Ninth Grade Success Initiative sets up 13,000 students to graduate on time each year. If funding for this initiative expires, 13,000 students are in jeopardy of falling off-track. 

Our lawmakers have an obligation to ensure Washington’s students can thrive, so we demand— fund the Ninth Grade Success Initiative now! 

Email Tips:

1. The most impactful messages will be personalized! Share who you are and why the Ninth Grade Success Initiative matters to you. 
2. Personalize the subject line to stand out. 
3. End your message with a strong ask to fully fund the Ninth Grade Success Initiative at $2.9 million in the final budget.

ADVOCACY

news

• The Daily Herarld: Funding at risk for program that keeps Everett ninth graders on track
• Seattle Medium Op-Ed: Investing In Ninth Grade Success: A Crucial Step Towards Equitable Education written by Stand for Children WA Executive Director Kia C. Franklin and NW Regional Director of the Center for High School Success Henterson Carlisle
• Meridian High School: 9th Grade Success Team proves its name
• A 2023 evaluation shows significant increases in the number of students passing their ninth grade classes as a result of the Ninth Grade Success Initiative. OSPI spotlighted the new data and reflections on the program, as well as featured a Vancouver team’s
• success on their blog.
• Washington State-based National Director of the Center for High School Success Kaaren Andrews published a well-received op-ed in The Hechinger Report detailing the most impactful lessons we learned from supporting districts during the pandemic.
• Yakima Herarld: New effort forms partnerships to help ninth-graders succeed in Central Washington

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