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Puget Sound College & Career Network Newsletter | February 2020
  • Completion
  • Financial Aid
  • Resources
Puget Sound College & Career Network Newsletter | February 2020

Visualizing Financial Aid Rates

Checking financial aid completion rates has just gotten easier, WSAC now visualizes each district's completion rates, allowing users to analyze data and produce interactive graphs and reports at the state, districts & school levels. The page also allows users to see error rates. Below are 2019 completion rates by district. Click either graph to access the interactive version.



At PSCCN, we celebrate each completion and there is still plenty of work to be done in the region. The good news is there is still time for students to complete their financial aid applications. PSCCN has a Financial Aid Toolkit that equips educators, youth program workers, and others assisting students with navigating the financial aid application process including completing financial aid forms. We also offer technical assistance in coaching and professional development. For additional information on financial aid click here or contact us.
King County Promise Update
PSCCN is currently staffing the King County Promise Refinement phase, which builds upon the past two years of research, engagement and design work to date. The Refinement Phase engages 85+ partners including students, educators, and leadership from K-12, community organizations, and higher education. We are grateful to the many partners who continue to dedicate time and expertise to help shape this vision and the program components.

Sign up here for monthly updates and upcoming information and community feedback sessions!
Partner Spotlight

PSCCN is pleased to spotlight Dr. Kevin McCarthy who is a close partner in our collaborative efforts on college and career readiness. Dr. McCarthy is the President of Renton Technical College (RTC) and the co-chair of the Puget Sound Coalition. He has an exemplary career in education that spans decades, which is why it's not surprising that he was selected by Aspen Institute to join the 2020-21 inaugural class of the New Presidents Fellowship. We conducted a short Q&A interview with Dr. McCarthy to learn what drives his passion for this work and the principles that guide his success. For the complete interview, click this link.
 
Opportunities for Educators
Ellison Education Grants: Applications are now being accepted with award grants ranging from $1,500 to $10,000 for use during the 2019-2020 school year. Applications are due March 14th, 2020. 

FAFSA Simplification Ideas?: If you could change anything about the FAFSA processing experience, what would it be? FSA ID fix? Re-order the questions? Delete your least favorite question? What else? Please email psccn@psesd.org with your ideas by COB of Tuesday, Feb 18th. We have an opportunity to share ideas with the National College Attainment Network who will bring them to the Federal Student Aid later next week as they develop the 2021-22 FAFSA. Want to learn more? Check out: 5 Questions About FAFSA Simplification Implementation. With the enactment of the FUTURE Act, which includes significant enhancements to the data sharing that takes place between the U.S. Departments of Treasury and Education, the blog explores important questions that NCAN has received recently from members about the implementation of this more robust data sharing process.
News from the Region

Last year, Washington lawmakers made college free for some. This year, they want to make it more accessible. 
Click on this link for more information. 
Washington State Taps the Power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Help High School Students Find Aid for College
Click on this link for more information. 
New Business And Occupation Tax In Washington 
Click on this link for more information. 

Upcoming Events and Trainings

Creating a Postsecondary Culture of Caring to Support Basic Needs and Student Success
Thursday, Feb. 20
1:30-2:30 p.m. ET
Register here.
FCAN webinar: Winning Back Stop-Outs: Evidence-Based Approaches to Increasing College Reenrollment 
Wednesday, Feb. 26
2-3 p.m. ET
Register here.
REL Appalachia webinar: Paving the Way to College and Career: The Nuts and Bolts of Postsecondary Transition 
Thursday, Feb. 27
3-4:15 p.m. ET
Register here.
#WeBelongInCollege: How Students Can Help Each Other Persist By Sharing Their Stories 
Wednesday, March 4
3-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here.
Washington Dual Credit Summit: Strengthening Programs And Addressing Equity
Monday, March 16, 2020 - Tuesday, March 17, 2020
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Register here.
2020 COSEBOC Gathering of Leaders: "Boys and Young Men of Color: Learning from the Footprints of the Past, Taking Footsteps to the Future.
Tuesday, April 28, 2020 - Thursday, April 30, 2020
7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Register here.
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