Winter is setting in and as we look ahead to 2024, it’s clear that your community and partnership will be as important as ever before. Please enjoy our final newsletter of 2023, and have a happy holiday season!
december highlights
NEW BRIEF: INCREASING ACCESS TO ADVANCED COURSEWORK IN WASHINGTON
In a new brief with EdTrust, we outline recommendations for ways to increase equitable enrollment in dual credit classes and increase the benefits of taking these classes, including saving students time and money by earning college credit. View the report!
2023 ANNUAL REPORT
When we are united, our children prosper and our community thrives. Our team is incredibly grateful for this community and your contribution to the impact we’ve made in 2023. There’s true power in togetherness and we are better off for it.
This year alone we:
- Advocated to keep critical funding investments for the Ninth Grade Success Initiative
- Eliminated all remaining juvenile court fines and fees
- Removed fees for College in the High School and expanded access to summer Running Start
We couldn’t have done any of it without you:
- 13,480 community members digitally engaged with us by taking action and staying updated
- 547 community members signed our Ninth Grade Success petition
- 21 people stepped up to testify on our legislative priorities — including 8 youth, young adults, and community members with direct lived experience of the court system
NINTH GRADE SUCCESS ACTION NEEDED
Disappointing news: Gov. Inslee’s budget proposal released last week failed to invest crucial funds to sustain the Ninth Grade Success Initiative. Luckily – the legislature will convene in January to consider the proposal, so now is the time to take action so they know this is a community priority!
Help us send a loud and clear message before the legislative session starts that we need to support the work in 53 schools, serving more than 13,000 students in Washington.
ICYMI
- Our advocacy training recording is live!
- Missed a previous edition of Stargazing with Stand? We’ve got you covered! They’re all available on our website. Here are a few items for your holiday reading list:
- Perspectives: The state of Washington dual credit courses today
- ACLU WA Blog: Diversion in the Juvenile Justice System
- Treehouse Report: Ending the Foster Care-to-Prison Pipeline
- Washington Roundtable Report: Projected Decline in Credential Attainment Demands Bold Action
Do you know any 9th graders? We want to hear from you!
Help us end 2023 strong by making a tax-deductible donation before the year ends. Every dollar counts!
