Rekindling Trust in Higher Education: The Imperative of Financial Aid Programs
The Imperative of Financial Aid Programs At the Foundation for Tacoma Students (FFTS), we firmly believe that policy strategies aimed at increasing postsecondary enrollment rates should prioritize improving the uptake of existing financial aid and expanding financial aid programs. According to a July 2023 Gallup survey, only 36 percent of Americans expressed a “great deal” […]
Policy Learning Tour 2023: Movers and Shakers In The Local Community
We’ve recently wrapped up another exciting adventure at the Foundation for Tacoma Students: our annual Policy Learning Tour! This event brought together policymakers, elected officials, state agency leaders, and all of us passionate about reshaping education and workforce pathways. This isn’t your typical adult field trip – it is instead a deep dive into the […]
How Policy Can Equip Educators and Empower Students
If we are to advance education justice, we must address the systemic barriers that prevent our students from accessing the excellent educators they deserve. Research confirms what we know – teachers are the most influential in-school factor driving student success. Yet many students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, end up with inexperienced teachers who may […]
Funding the Future: Achieving Equity in Washington’s K-12 Education System
We acknowledge that many advocates across Washington State believe it is time to rethink how Washington funds public education. As an ally and advocate for education justice, we offer these recommendations for consideration in achieving equity in Washington’s K12 education system. The policy decisions about how much we spend and how to invest and allocate […]
2023 Washington State Legislative Session Recap
The 2023 legislative session wrapped up on April 23. It’s fair to say that lawmakers and the governor notched significant accomplishments toward their priorities around housing, gun safety, and protecting abortion access. However, the one notable disappointment for the governor and lawmakers was a failure on drug possession legislation. The accomplishments were more modest when […]
From the CEO: FFTS to Enter a Period of Strategic Pause
The Foundation for Tacoma Students is entering a period of strategic pause and recalibration. Continuing our current level of operations is no longer financially sustainable, and maintaining the status quo would compromise the integrity of our mission.
Local Organizations Receive $800,000 for Youth and Cultural Programming
When over 12,000 residents cast their votes in Tacoma’s participatory budgeting process, their message was clear: invest in our youth and celebrate our cultures. Today, that community vision becomes reality as the City of Tacoma and the Foundation for Tacoma Students announce the recipients of $800,000 in funding for locally-led programming that will transform District 4’s eastside neighborhoods.
Community at the Table for Student Success
At last month’s Charting Our Future conference, hundreds of community leaders and advocates gathered to reflect, connect, and reimagine a path forward. One message echoed across every panel and conversation: The Power of Us isn’t just a theme, it’s a framework for systems change. In a time when the needs of young people are growing […]
The Power of Us in Practice: Insights from Charting Our Future
Charting Our Future 2025 saw our community come together to share stories, spark ideas, and strengthen a shared commitment to youth success. As we return to our everyday roles, the key insights from this year’s conference offer a roadmap for action and remind us that progress is possible when we center relationships, elevate youth leadership, […]
Community, Courage, and The Power of Us
At the 2025 Charting Our Future conference, Dr. Tafona Ervin delivered a powerful opening address that met the moment with clarity, courage, and conviction. Acknowledging the weight of today’s political and social climate, Dr. Ervin challenged attendees to remember their collective power, even as commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion face unprecedented backlash. Her message: […]
Centering The Student Experience By Design
This year’s Community Impact Award recipient, Clover Park Technical College (CPTC), demonstrates what’s possible when student experiences are placed at the center of institutional efforts. By redesigning its approach and working closely with community, CPTC’s Student Aid and Scholarship Department champions a culturally responsive model for making financial aid outreach accessible, adaptable, and sustainable through […]
Seven reflections on the 2025 legislative session
The 2025 legislative session adjourned on April 27. The final budget deal between Democrats in the legislature and the Governor was the big hang-up for the entire session, and three weeks ago it seemed more likely than not that lawmakers would need at least a few days of special session beyond the official end date […]
Lots of moving pieces in the legislative session
April 21st is day 99 out of 105 for the 2025 Legislative Session. At this point it’s very unclear from the outside what is going to happen with regards to the mix of spending cuts and new taxes that will be necessary to close our state’s budget deficit. Over the weekend Democrats advanced several major […]
Higher education is not getting its due
Normally at this point in the legislative session we’re beginning our descent for a comfortable landing. But this year it feels like we’re a mile from the airport, still cruising at 40,000 feet, and heading for a crash. It all has to do with the big budget deficit that we’re facing in Washington. The House […]
The case for the Department of Education
The state legislative session is coming to a crescendo. In the last three weeks bills either made it out or died in their house of origin, and we’re about to go into a key phase when spending and tax plans for the next two-year budget will be released. Because of our giant budget deficit it’s […]