Rodney Raccoon: Your New Favorite Children’s Book
Rodney Raccoon: Special Delivery follows Rodney and friends as they explore the wonders of the Dome-A-Roma Science Museum. They must find clues hidden through the woods, under the sea, and in the Arctic dome that will lead them to their final destination. The book is currently available for purchase on the WayOut Kids website, Amazon, […]
UPDATE: Tacoma Completes
Colleagues and Friends, This past January we celebrated another milestone year of upward momentum for high school graduation rates. Meanwhile, however, college completion remains stagnant. Increased commitment and focus in this area is critical to seeing Tacoma kids through to postsecondary success. That’s why it gives me great excitement to share the growing partnership between […]
Bridging Schools and Community
As we prepare for another graduation season, the Tacoma College Support Network (TCSN) is finding new ways to amplify their work. This time, with clear input from high school staff. Over the course of the next few weeks, Network members are visiting with Tacoma high school counselors, principals and faculty to better understand what’s been […]
Building Connections 2019
A free Kindergarten readiness workshop where we will learn new and creative tools, including the Paint to Learn model, to incorporate MATH concepts in everyday activities: at home, in the classroom, and on the go! Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided to all attendees. Structured child-friendly activities will be available for children ages 4 […]
Bills are Dropping!
Bills for four of our five advocacy priorities have dropped and action campaigns are gearing up. Here are the latest updates: PRIORITY ONE: Equalize the School Levy Cap Levy Equalization Bill SB5316 by Senator Wellman was introduced and read into the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education. PRIORITY TWO: Fully Fund the […]
Tacoma Schools Take Victory Lap for Graduation Rate, Sets Sights on Olympia
Tacoma Public School District officials, teachers and community partners held a short-and-sweet celebration last week to mark the release of its graduation figures. Now the district will focus on lawmakers in Olympia to shore up state funding for schools. So far the district has been forced to lay off staff and foresees more cuts with […]
A Strong Opening Week in Olympia
The Washington State Legislature has kicked off the 2019 Session, and there is a lot of momentum to be excited about! Four of our five Advocacy Priorities have been included in Governor Inslee’s Budget this year. We also received local news coverage that shared our concerns for the school levy cap. We are thrilled to […]
Tacoma Graduation Rates are at a Record High, but Budget Challenges Pose Threat
As Tacoma Public Schools leaders celebrate record-high graduation rates, the district’s budget deficit looms. Tacoma Public Schools reached an 89.3 percent graduation rate in 2018, more than 3 percent higher than the 86.1 percent earned in 2017. It’s the highest it’s been since the state began tracking it in 2003. “Our graduation rate has gone […]
New to the Foundation Team: Elvin Bucu
The Foundation for Tacoma Students is thrilled to announce our new Director of Cross-Sector Partnership and Alignment, Elvin Bucu! Longtime community partner, Elvin brings nearly two decades of experience in youth development and has dedicated his career to supporting families and young people. Currently the Director of Operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of […]
Growing Partnerships
Esteemed Colleagues and Friends, First, I hope 2019 has started strong for all of you. As you launch into the new year, I’d like to introduce you to a project the Graduate Tacoma movement seeks to embark upon in the coming months. Tacoma Completes envisions a comprehensive, coordinated, community-wide system of supports helping all Tacoma Public School college-goers to access and […]