Action Teams

Action Teams graphic of three people working together in planning meeting

PSCCN convenes a diverse range of partners in three continuous improvement focused Action Teams, each focused on a specific gap within postsecondary access to leverage collective expertise and resources and to discover and model what is possible by supporting small-scale tests and shared inquiry that leads to scaling of innovative strategies. These teams test and refine solutions and share findings with leadership groups and practitioners in the region.

Teams Include

  • Increasing Postsecondary Readiness: Rooted in recent local findings that students of color are more likely to rely on school staff to learn college and career readiness, this team is focused on developing strategies that increase the embedded support for all students to access their post-high school path. The PSCCN team is identifying resources, practices and supports that ensure all students complete high school with the knowledge and preparation to successfully enroll in the postsecondary path they choose. PSCCN is developing a postsecondary readiness advising model with partners, featuring a blueprint of essential knowledge and skills for grades 9–12. In 2018–19, we will pilot implementation with two to three schools/districts and revise and identify needed professional learning.

  • Increasing Financial Aid Completion: Expanding communications, resources and supports to ensure that more Latinx students and families apply and access financial aid for postsecondary education. Building upon PSCCN’s financial aid completion resources, training and data-sharing, PSCCN was awarded an National College Access Network (NCAN) grant to continue supporting community partners and school staff in Kent School District in their work to increase financial aid completion by at least 5%. Partners include King County Housing Authority, King County Library System, School’s Out Washington, Kent Youth & Family Services, St. Vincent de Paul and the United Way of King County.

  • Strengthening Postsecondary Transitions: The team focused on understanding and modeling solutions to address gaps in the transition process from high school to college. This included an initial focus on supporting the Seattle Promise design efforts to ensure that this model included strong supports for transition and that partners can learn from effective practices and gaps experienced by those leading the Seattle Promise efforts. The team focused on identifying opportunities to increase equity in postsecondary transition across the region.

Updates from Action Teams are featured on PSCCN News. To learn more or join an Action Team, contact the PSCCN team at psccn@psesd.org.