November 2025: Students don't succeed in isolation

Director’s Note

The final days of fall can often signal a step toward isolation here in Washington state. On the West side of the state, the grey starts to hover and the cold, wet rain becomes a part of our daily routine. In Eastern Washington, we begin to prepare for bitter cold days, puffy jackets and layers during high school football games, and shoveling the snow off our driveways.

While that pull inside and away from community can be intense during this time of year, I’d argue that we all need to resist this urge. We need to connect with our communities now more than ever.

This month's newsletter highlights the power of coordinated community response. Students don't succeed in isolation. They need nourishment, guidance, and communities that show up. Access to educational opportunities requires all of us, working together across sectors, to build the supports young people need to thrive.

I read this Seattle Times article over the weekend about Seattle becoming the first major U.S. city where 70% of adults hold bachelor's degrees. It's an impressive statistic, but it masks a local challenge: while 90% of Washington high school students say they aspire to postsecondary education, just over half currently enroll in an apprenticeship or two- or four-year degree program after graduation. We're importing much of our talent rather than cultivating it at home, which is why the work highlighted in this newsletter matters so much.

Here’s to building community as we close out the year.

In partnership,

Angela Jones
Director, Washington State & US Charters

_______

Food banks step up amid federal uncertainty

As KING 5 News highlights, the White Center Food Bank has seen donations surge as community members respond to concerns about potential SNAP benefit cuts and federal program disruptions.

By the numbers:

• The food bank received an "outpouring" of community support following news coverage of federal uncertainty.
  
  
• They're now serving families worried about potential changes to food assistance programs.
  
  
• Food insecurity is also an education issue. Students can't focus on learning when they're worried about their next meal.

What we're doing: The Gates Foundation's Community Engagement team recently finalized grants to Northwest Harvest, Food Lifeline, and Emergency Food Network for food purchases. We also provide ongoing support to larger-capacity food banks across King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties—including Ballard, University District, White Center, West Seattle, and Rainier Valley food banks, as well as Nourish in Pierce County.

New funding available: Healthier Here is offering grants up to $200,000 for King County food assistance providers to strengthen emergency food resources and address barriers to food access. Proposals are due December 8, 2025.

The bottom line: Our partners are sounding the alarm and responding with urgency. Community support makes their work possible. Not just during the holidays, but all year long.

Read more: White Center Food Bank sees outpouring of community support amid SNAP uncertainty

_______

Give back this holiday season at the Giving Marketplace

The Gates Foundation Discovery Center's Giving Marketplace returns this weekend, offering a unique opportunity to purchase gifts that support important global causes.

What it is: The Giving Marketplace is a curated shopping experience where 100% of proceeds support nonprofits working on health, poverty, and education challenges.

• Find unique gifts from over 30 vendors.
  
  
• Enjoy family-friendly holiday activities and art-making.
  
  
• Discover ways to take action on issues you care about.

When: Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT.

Learn more: Shop the Giving Marketplace

_______

Dual Credit Spotlight: Running Start's impact

Welcome to our Dual Credit Spotlight, a regular feature highlighting research, trends, and bright spots in expanding college access through dual credit programs.

New analysis from the Community Center for Education Results (CCER) examines how Running Start—Washington's dual enrollment program that allows juniors and seniors to take college courses at Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges—impacts student outcomes, particularly for underrepresented students.

Key findings:

• Students earn bachelor's degrees at 1.7 times the rate of non-Running Start students.
  
  
• Associate degree completion increases dramatically: from 5% to 38% within three years.
  
  
• Running Start participation is associated with an increased probability of college enrollment for underrepresented students, with Black and Latino students seeing the most significant gains in bachelor’s degree completion.
  
  
• Despite strong outcomes, students of color, multilingual learners, and students from low-income backgrounds remain underrepresented in the program.

Why it matters: Running Start can be a powerful pathway to postsecondary success, but only if all students have equitable access. Understanding participation barriers is the first step to removing them.

What's next: CCER plans a formal study in 2026 examining how Running Start influences postsecondary outcomes across intersecting lines of race, economic status, and language background.

Read more: From Access to Achievement: Understanding Equity in Running Start Participation

_______

New CTE data shows what works

A decade-long analysis of 750,000 Washington students reveals how career and technical education (CTE) supports graduation, credentials, and careers.

• The analysis was conducted by Education Northwest, in partnership with ERDC and OSPI.
  
  
• They uncovered insights that point to important implications for CTE program design.

Key findings:

• Participation in CTE is high and has been growing. Among students in the 2024 cohort, 94 percent earned at least one credit and the share of students earning four or more credits rose from 42 percent (2017) to 56 percent (2024).
  
  
• Students earning more than one CTE credit were 5.7 to 12 percentage points more likely to graduate high school than similar peers.
  
  
• Students who focused on a single pathway were more likely to complete credentials and earn higher wages six years after graduation. Manufacturing pathway students earned $10,500+ more annually six years out, while Transportation pathway students saw cumulative earnings $42,800 higher than peers.
  
  
• Indigenous, Black, and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students, and those who experienced economic hardship, participated in CTE at lower rates, and students in small and rural schools had fewer pathway options.

Why it matters: As Washington faces 1.5 million new jobs or job openings through 2032, most requiring postsecondary credentials, CTE pathways can offer a critical bridge between high school and career. But only if all students can access quality programs.

• Researchers recommend increasing pathway access for underserved groups and strengthening alignment between pathways and regional labor markets.

Read the full study: Career and Technical Education in Washington State