Horizons Regional Grants

Our Horizons Regional Grant Program is supporting four regional partnerships that are ready to expand programs to help more students transition from K-12 into postsecondary education. Each Horizons region features a “backbone” organization—which could be a school district, educational service district (ESD), or nonprofit—that coordinates the partnership. Other partners include K-12 school districts, higher education institutions, and workforce, government, and community-based organizations (CBOs). 

In addition to grant funding, each Horizons partnership will receive technical assistance to learn more about high-quality advising strategies and other programs proven to help students take the next step after graduation. Technical assistance providers will also help regions measure the impact of their partnership and build their capacity to access, analyze, and apply data so they can refine programs to meet student needs.

While Horizons partnerships are working to support all high school students in their region, they have a particular focus on solutions that benefit students who face the most significant barriers to opportunity, including students from rural and low-income backgrounds, and Black, Latino, and Indigenous students. 

ESD 112 Postsecondary Readiness Partnership

Partners:

• School districts: Ocean Beach, Naselle-Grays River Valley, Wahkiakum, Castle Rock, Toutle Lake, Kalama, Hockinson, Trout Lake, Glenwood, Stevenson-Carson, White Salmon Valley, Klickitat, Lyle, Wishram
• Colleges: WSU Vancouver, Lower Columbia College, Clark College
• Other partners: Two workforce partners, three economic development councils and chambers of commerce, multiple CBOs

For over 50 years, Educational Service District 112 has enhanced educational equity and opportunities in Southwest Washington and beyond, supporting teaching and learning, and offering business and administrative expertise to both large and small school districts. Working with education and community partners, ESD 112 serves over 99,000 K-12 students across 30 public districts, 34 private schools, and two state schools. ESD 112 also directly impacts approximately 17,000 children annually throughout their region and state, providing essential resources and opportunities for every child to succeed. 

Elevate / United Way of the Blue Mountains

Partners:

• School districts: College Place, Dayton, Prescott, Walla Walla
• Colleges: Walla Walla Community College, Whitman College
• Other partners: ESD 123, Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce, Communities in Schools of the Blue Mountain Region, Port of Columbia 

Elevate serves Columbia and Walla Walla counties, encompassing multiple school districts. Their shared mission is to overcome barriers hindering student success, recognizing the community's role in achieving educational goals. Their primary aim is to improve educational alignment from cradle to career development. 

Elevate has three key strategies: 

• To foster a culture supporting educational investment, highlighting its importance for personal and community growth. 
• To promote diversity, equity, and inclusivity practices for all community members. 
• To collaborate with stakeholders to maximize resources and create sustainable change. 

Under the Horizons grant, Elevate’s goals are to enhance supports for students and parents, improve postsecondary pathways, and establish a network of internships, apprenticeships, and workforce mentors to empower students with real-world experience and essential skills for future endeavors. 

Puget Sound ESD

Partners:

• School districts: Highline, Federal Way, Tukwila  
• College: Highline College 
• CBOs: Becoming a Man, College Possible, Communities In Schools 

As one of nine regional educational agencies serving school districts and state-approved private schools in Washington, Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) develops and delivers an array of services providing instructional and administrative support to PreK-12 schools, as well as direct service to students and families in the Puget Sound region. 

Through Horizons, PSESD will partner with the Highline, Federal Way, and Tukwila School districts, Highline College, and CBOs including Becoming a Man, College Possible, and Communities In Schools. It is committed to creating a space where all — students, educational leaders, staff, and boards — can thrive and succeed. Working with its partners, PSESD will dedicate itself to expanding programs, grounded in culturally responsive advising and implementation practices, that are proven to reduce historical educational inequities and to help students transition from high school into postsecondary education — whether as an apprenticeship, career certificate, or as a two- or four-year degree program. 

West Sound STEM Network / PREP (Postsecondary Regional Equity on the Peninsula)

Partners:  

• School districts: Cape Flattery, Quileute Tribal, Suquamish Tribal Education Department, Crescent, Sequim, Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Quilcene, Brinnon, Quillayute Valley, North Kitsap, Bainbridge Island, South Kitsap, Central Kitsap, North Mason  
• Colleges: Peninsula College, Western Washington University 
• Other partners: Three economic development agencies, multiple workforce partners, and multiple CBOs 

PREP’s lead partners are West Sound STEM Network, College Success Foundation, and Peninsula College. Together they will collaborate with other partners including 15 school districts/Tribal schools, Western Washington University, and nine workforce, government, and community-based organizations in Clallam, Jefferson, Mason, and Kitsap counties. 

Their mission is to expand programs that are proven to help students transition from high school into postsecondary education — whether that’s an apprenticeship, career certificate, or two- or four-year degree program. Special focus will be given to Black, Latino/a, Indigenous students and students impacted by poverty. 

PREP’s goals include: 

• Expanding postsecondary advising and mentoring specifically for focus populations in rural and Tribal secondary schools.
• Increasing financial aid application completion rates through coordinated outreach efforts and supports in schools across K-12 partners.  
• Increasing high school to college transition support services; and  
• Providing high-demand industry education opportunities. 

Technical Assistance Providers:  

• Washington STEM: In addition to serving as the Horizons partnership manager, Washington STEM will provide technical assistance around data and partnership capacity-building to support each region’s efforts 
• College Access: Research & Action (CARA): High-quality advising solutions   
• Scholar Fund: Continuous improvement and student voice best practices   
• Sankofa Consulting: Measurement, learning, and evaluation

Learn More 

• Our Work in Washington State: Supporting Local Partnerships
• Meet the four regional partnerships helping students explore postsecondary pathways in Washington state
• New findings on college and career advising provide insights for Washington
• What new research tells us about students' views on college 

We provided funding to Education First to help launch the Limitless Learning Network, which is bringing 25 local partnerships together—in person and virtually—over the next four school years.

Through Limitless, practitioners at local partnerships will have an opportunity to connect with other teams of local K-12 and higher education partners across Washington state, creating space to share information, explore new ideas, and develop best practices together. Participants are exploring topics such as strengthening their partnerships, increasing data capacity, and designing and implementing effective strategies to increase postsecondary enrollment rates.