College Spark Washington: Education Equity Fund Grant

The College Spark Washington: Education Equity Fund invites educational institutions and nonprofits in Washington to submit Letters of Interest (LOIs) aimed at dismantling barriers to equity in education for high school and community college students. This fund seeks innovative, community-driven solutions that address systemic racism and inequality in education. Key focus areas include alternatives to exclusionary discipline, equitable placement in college courses, and culturally responsive pedagogy, promoting an inclusive future for all students.

NOTE: LOIs are accepted on a rolling basis. There are no set deadlines for submission. The Board of Trustees meets and considers grant requests quarterly.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to view a recorded informational webinar prior to submitting a LOI.All LOIs will be considered and applicants will be notified within 30 days of submission as to whether a full grant proposal is invited.We request that full grant proposals are submitted within 30 days of invitation to apply, unless an extension is requested by the applicant and approved by College Spark.
But in order to improve educational outcomes for all, we must challenge the status quo and deeply consider what isn’t working, why and what can be done.
These efforts will most likely look different in different communities. Some ideas may challenge existing notions of what schools look like, and where and how learning happens. But they will all share a common goal – that every student belongs, every student matters, and every student sees a future filled with possibility.
Dismantling Barriers to Equity in Education
College Spark is inviting education institutions and nonprofit organizations in Washington state to submit a Letter-of-Interest (LOI) for grant funding to support work designed to dismantle barriers to equity in education for students in high school and at community and technical colleges. Project funding is available for work that has one or more of the following areas of focus:
Alternatives to Exclusionary Discipline in High School: Elimination or substantial reduction in the use of exclusionary discipline for all students and/or elimination or substantial reduction of the current racial disparity in rates of exclusionary discipline. Exclusionary discipline refers to expulsion, in-school suspension, and out-of-school suspension.
Placement at Community and Technical Colleges: Changes to current placement policy and practice designed to eliminate the opportunity gap in the rate of students who are placed directly into credit-bearing, college-level English and math classes. We want students to have the opportunity to earn credit for the correct math course for their chose program of study, whether or not that course is a transferable math course.
Community Centered Decision-Making: Efforts to change policy and practice in schools, districts, and colleges that facilitate a full, equal, and equitable partnership among families, educators, and community partners to promote student learning and flourishing. A wide range of projects can advance this goal, including but not limited to participatory research, co-design processes, student-led equity audits of policy, and organizing student and parent/community advocacy efforts.
Culturally Responsive Curriculum and Pedagogy: Developing, refining, and/or implementing anti-racist and/or multicultural curriculum into core subjects, developing and implementing stand-alone ethnic studies courses, or removing/revising curriculum that contributes to racist outcomes for students. Any professional development efforts to promote culturally responsive pedagogy must be sustained over time and tied to educator practice.
Anti-Racist Leadership Development: Sustained efforts to build the knowledge and skills necessary for teachers, principals, district leadership, and college administrators to implement practical applications of anti-racist theory that identify and dismantle racism within their educational institutions.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for College Spark funding, applicant organizations must have a staffed physical presence in Washington and be: Organized and operated for purposes described in IRC Section 501(c)(3), but excluding Type III Supporting Organizations; OR
A university, college, school or other educational organization described in IRC Section 170(c)(1); OR
A Public agency, unit of government, tribal government, or tribal program under IRC Section 7871.