College Spark Washington, a nonprofit funder that helps low-income Washington students become college-ready and earn their degrees, has announced $3.9 million in grants this year.

The Guided Pathways grants, announced in July in partnership with the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, will total $2.5 million over five years to Everett Community College, Peninsula College, Pierce College, South Puget Sound Community College and South Seattle College. Each college will receive $500,000 in grant funding over five years; a second cohort of five additional colleges will be selected in 2018. 

Guided Pathways is an evidence-based approach that simplifies choices about college courses, informs and supports those choices, and directs students into an intentional, comprehensive program of study that leads to a credential. “The process from college entrance to program selection to degree completion is streamlined, providing students with a much clearer, more efficient path to completion,” said Christine McCabe, College Spark Washington executive director.

Earlier this year, College Spark Washington announced $1.4 million in Community Grants to 10 programs to support low-income middle school, high school and college students. The recipients included Community Colleges of Spokane; Lake Washington Institute of Technology; NEWESD 101; Renton Technical College; Republic School District; Seattle Public Schools; Skagit Valley College; Spokane Public Schools; and Whatcom Community College.

For more information, visit www.collegespark.org.