For the Reporter

College Spark Washington has awarded a $141,228 grant to Communities in Schools of Auburn (CISA) to improve high school and college readiness for middle school students.

The grant will foster a community-district partnership between CISA and the Auburn School District to reduce early warning indicators and improve intervention strategies for seventh- and eighth-grade students at Olympic, Mt. Baker and Cascade middle schools.

The project combines planned, evidence-based and new interventions. The indicators, program officials said, help predict high school completion and college readiness.

College Spark announced more than $1.1 million in community grants to colleges and schools throughout the state.

The annual, competitive statewide grants program focuses on building the effectiveness of grantees working with low-income students in middle school, high school and college by funding new and promising practices that help students be college ready and transition successfully to college.

“The goal of the community grants program is to increase degree-completion rates for low-income students,” said Christine McCabe, executive director at College Spark. “These programs represent promising college readiness and college transition programs in Washington state.”

College Spark has awarded more than 100 community grants totaling more than $15 million since 2005. College Spark funds programs throughout the state that help low-income students become college-ready and earn their degrees.