SOUTH KING COUNTY – The Auburn, Highline and Kent school boards have each passed resolutions endorsing the Road Map Project, a community-wide effort to dramatically improve student achievement from cradle to college and career in South Seattle and South King County.
The Road Map Project’s goal is to double the number of students in the region who are on track to graduate from college or earn a career credential by 2020. The project also aims to close achievement gaps for low-income students and children of color. The school districts involved in the Road Map Project are Auburn, Federal Way, Highline, Kent, Renton, Seattle and Tukwila.
The Auburn School Board passed its resolution on Sept. 10, Highline approved its on Aug. 8 and Kent did the same on Sept. 26. The Road Map Project has now gathered endorsements from six of the seven districts in the region; the school boards for the Federal Way, Tukwila and Renton districts passed similar resolutions earlier this year.
In addition to working together as part of the Road Map Project, the seven districts have also teamed up to compete for a federal Race to the Top grant. Work is currently under way on the grant proposal and members of the public are encouraged to read the plan and comment. Additionally, people are invited to show support for the effort on Facebook.
Auburn School Board President Lisa Connors said partnership with the Road Map Project will benefit all students.
“We are very excited about working with the Road Map Project on behalf of student learning in our region. The Auburn School District strategic plan aligns well with the Road Map Project benchmarks and our partnership with the project will help all our students develop career and college skill success,” Connors said.
Angelica Alvarez, president of the Highline School Board, echoed that sentiment.
“The districts in our region must work together if we want to deliver the best possible education to our children. The families in our region move frequently from district to district, so it makes sense for schools and districts to work across borders to increase student achievement. By endorsing the Road Map Project’s goal, Highline Public Schools is pledging to keep building relationships, inside and outside of schools, and do what it takes to help all children succeed,” Alvarez said.
Debbie Straus, president of the Kent School Board, underscored the Road Map Project’s focus on collaboration and partnership.
“Kent is supporting the Road Map Project as it allows multiple districts to come together with shared data, shared vision and a shared voice. We each serve different communities but we all serve local students. All of those students deserve the benefits of a quality education that leads to relevant preparation for college and career. But most importantly, the Road Map Project is working to create true opportunity for our students, our schools and our region,” Straus said.
The resolutions are reprinted below.
Auburn’s resolution:
WHEREAS, the Road Map Project is a regionally established initiative aimed at driving major improvements in education results; and
WHEREAS, the Auburn School District has been actively involved in the development of the Road Map Project, partnering with the Community Center for Education Results and neighboring districts; and
WHEREAS, the Puget Sound regional economy has become one of the nation’s most knowledge intensive in that most jobs tend to require some form of degree or credential; and
WHEREAS, we believe our students, like all young people growing up in South King County and South Seattle, deserve the best possible education; and
WHEREAS, the need to improve education starts early and requires that parents, schools, cities, youth development groups, and others who serve young people and families all work together on behalf of the regions’ children; and
WHEREAS, the Road Map Project cradle to college and career improvement goals and interim progress targets align with the Auburn School District Strategic Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the School District endorses the Road Map cradle to college and career improvement goal;
The Road Map Project goal is to double the number of students in South King County and South Seattle who are on track to graduate from college or earn a career credential by 2020. We are committed to nothing less than closing the unacceptable achievement gaps for low-income students and children of color and increasing achievement for all students from cradle to college and career.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auburn School Board endorses incorporating the Road Map Project and commits to the collaboration needed to accelerate progress in our region.
ADOPTED this 10th day of September, 2012
Highline’s resolution:
WHEREAS, the young people growing up in South King County and South Seattle deserve the best possible education; and
WHEREAS, the Puget Sound regional economy has become one of the nation’s most knowledge intensive – in that most jobs tend to require some form of postsecondary degree or credential; and
WHEREAS, the current data indicates that far too few of the students in the Road Map area are graduating from high school and earning postsecondary degrees with the results being far worse for students of color; and
WHEREAS, the need to improve education starts early and require that parents, schools, cities, youth development groups and others who serve young people and families all work together on behalf of the regions’ children
THEREFORE, IT BE RESOLVED THAT that the Highline School District endorses the Road Map cradle to college and career improvement goal;
The Road Project goal is to double the number of students in South King County and South Seattle who are on track to graduate from college or earn a career credential by 2020. We are committed to nothing less than closing the unacceptable achievement gaps for low-income students and children of color and increasing achievement for all students from cradle to college and career.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Highline School District Board of Directors commits to consider incorporating the Road Map interim progress targets as appropriate when it next revises its strategic plan, and to ask its administrators and staff to find ways to accelerate progress and collaborate with others sharing the Road Map goal.
ADOPTED this 8th day of August 2012
Kent’s resolution:
WHEREAS, the young people growing up in South King County and South Seattle deserve the best possible education, and
WHEREAS, the Puget Sound regional economy has become one of the nation’s most knowledge intensive in that most jobs require postsecondary knowledge, a degree, or credential; and
WHEREAS, the current data indicates that far too many of the students in the Road Map area are not graduating from high school and earning postsecondary degrees – with the results being far worse for students of color; and
WHEREAS, the need to improve education starts early and requires that parents, schools, cities, youth development groups and others who serve young people and families all work together on behalf of the region’s children,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Kent School District endorses the Road Map cradle to college and career improvement goal;
The Road Map Project goal is to double the number of students in South King County and South Seattle who are on track to graduate from college or earn a career credential by 2020. Along with the six other Road Map Districts, Kent School District is committed to nothing less than closing the unacceptable achievement gaps for low income students and children of color and increasing achievement for all students from cradle to college and career.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Kent School District Board of Directors KSD will hold all students to the same high standards and not set lower expectations for different subgroups over time, and in accordance with our mission successfully prepare all students for their future. In addition, Kent School District commits to meeting or exceeding the Road Map interim progress targets as appropriate effective the 2012-13 school year, and to ask its administrators and staff to find ways to accelerate progress and collaborate with others sharing the Road Map goal.
Passed this 26th day of September, 2012
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