Tools for Schools

Promoting the College Bound Scholarship

There are many ways to promote the College Bound Scholarship. Your resources of time, money, and staff will determine whether you are able to do the very basic – include a College Bound brochure in your regular mailings, or something more advanced such as coordinating a school-wide College Bound sign-up event with guest speakers. Regardless, you can do something! Keep reading for more ideas.

Points to Remember:

• All students who are eligible for free and reduced-price lunch; foster youth; and those receiving TANF benefits.
• All materials are available in Spanish.
• Eligible students must sign up by the end of their eighth grade year.*

*Note: This year's eighth graders (2007-08) have a one time exception to this rule and have until the end of the 2008-09 school year to sign up.

Forms and program materials:

• Sample flyer for community sign-up event

• How to create a successful sign-up event

• Postcards - great for school-wide events - includes College Bound and general Financial Aid guidelines

• Check out what other schools are doing

• Disclosure of Free and Reduced Price Information Agreement - (to access names of eligible students)

The Higher Education Coordinating Board's College Bound
staff will provide you with examples of newsletter articles; names of speakers; and ideas for promotional events.

Please review the statements below to see which best represents your situation - then click the link for ideas on ways to spread the word about College Bound.

LEVEL 1 - "I think College Bound is a great idea and I want my eligible students and their families to know about it, but I don’t have a lot of time!"

LEVEL 2 - “This is a great program and I know my students would benefit. I have some extra time this year, what else could I do?”

LEVEL 3 - “This is one of the most exciting programs to come along in a long time! Several of us feel this way and we are willing to do whatever it takes to get all of our eligible students registered. Tell us what to do.”

LEVEL 1:  QUICK, EASY PROMOTION IDEAS

• Identify students eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch, and send them a brochure and application.  Note: OSPI, working with Tacoma Public Schools, has developed a Disclosure of Free and Reduced Price Information Agreement, which safeguards the privacy of the students yet allows designated school officials access to the names of the students in order to promote College Bound.

• Include College Bound information with other routine communications, such as:
• Bus route information
• PTA/PTO flyers
• Back-to-School Night notices
• WASL score mailings
• PTC Conferences
• High School planning nights
• Middle school orientations
• Staff meetings

• Add a link on your school’s Web page to: www.hecb.wa.gov/collegebound

• Include a short article in an education publication such as your school's newspaper; your district's newsletter; and other association newsletters.

• Contact the HECB for articles that you can use. Call: 1-888-535-0747.

• Place CBS posters on school bulletin boards.

• Make announcements over the PA system.

Check with your school district's Public Information Officers for additional promotional ideas.

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LEVEL 2:  MORE CREATIVE IDEAS

In addition to the suggestions mentioned in Level 1, you may want to piggy-back with some scheduled events. You may be able to include a summary of the program in welcome remarks, and set up a table with College Bound brochures and applications.

Consider these events:

• School concerts, art exhibitions, science fairs
• Recognition events (sports, academic, arts)
• Youth Appreciation Week
• National Community Education Day
• Multi-Cultural Days
• National Parent Involvement Day
• Read Across America

• Partner with existing groups to plan a College Bound event such as: “Start Now to Prepare for College and Your Future” or “What are the Many Advantages of Going to College?”  Please call the HECB for speakers and ideas, 1-888-535-0747.

• Examples of initiatives at your school that may be ideal as partners:
• AVID, Navigation 101, Career Cruising
• GEAR UP, Talent Search, College Success Foundation

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LEVEL 3: CREATIVE, FOCUSED, INVOLVED

In addition to Level 1 and Level 2 here are other suggestions:

• One-to-One Contacts
• Phone-a-thons (bilingual).
• Home visits to eligible families.
• Individual letters to families from the principal - see sample letters.
• Follow-up periodically with eligible students who have not applied and to support those who have.

• School-wide Events
• Parents Night “Why College?” with guest speakers from CSF, NELA, and Washington Mentors. Please contact the HECB at 1-888-535-0747 for names of speakers.
• “College Bound” student event with distinguished school alums as speakers (discussing the benefits of higher education).

• Electronic
• Student blogs, FaceBook/YouTube, etc.
• Dedicated space on school’s Web site.

• Media
• Contact local radio and TV stations and bilingual media.
• Contact local newspapers to spotlight program.

• Outreach
• Concerted effort to partner with community organizations: 4H, College Success Foundation, NELA, Boys & Girls Clubs, Treehouse, Washington State Mentors, United Way, DSHS, Governor’s Ethnic Commissions, etc.

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Note: HECB College Bound staff can assist you in providing guest speakers, newsletter articles, and other promotional materials.

Contact us at:

College Bound Scholarship
Phone: 1-888-535-0747

Back to main College Bound page