Deadline: 24-Feb-25
The Gary Community Ventures (Gary) is seeking organizations or individuals interested in serving as a 9th Grade Success Champion for Colorado with the goal of significantly expanding 9th grade success systems across the state.
9th grade is the “make or break” year for high school students. If students succeed in passing their classes in 9th grade, their chances of high school graduation increase dramatically. Fortunately, there is ample evidence about how to set up 9th grade systems of support for students; and Colorado has many of the ingredients (legislation, state support, and strong technical assistance providers) needed to support school districts with implementing these systems.
Goals
- Year 1 & 2 Goals of the Intermediary:
- Year 1
- Data
- Baseline data on number of districts with 9th grade success systems – Gap analysis of baseline to ideal state
- School district activation
- 1-3 school districts (1 in the metro area) adopt 9th grade success as a policy and/or strategic goal
- 1-3 districts commit to calculating and sharing their own on track rates
- 3-5 new schools/districts successfully driven to state grant opportunities and/or TA providers
- 3-5 schools/districts measurably adopting or expanding quality practices
- Network and field building
- At least one statewide learning/convening/celebrations in person
- Regular virtual learning sessions for school leaders, teachers, and district supporters
- Impact Monitoring
- Coordinate with CDE to share statewide data trends in 9th grade on track
- Data
- Year 2
- Data
- Ongoing maintenance of data on the status of 9th grade success systems across the state
- Strand of Work
- 1-3 more school districts adopt 9th grade success as a policy and/or strategic goal
- 1-3 more districts commit to calculating and sharing their own on track rates
- 3-5 more schools/districts successfully driven to state grant opportunities and/or TA providers
- 5-7 more schools/districts measurably adopting or expanding quality practices
- Champion has a “playbook” for school district activation based on learnings
- Network and field building
- At least one statewide learning/convening/celebrations in person
- Regular virtual learning sessions for school leaders, teachers, and district supporters
- Impact Monitoring
- Monitor districts that are activated for impact, including progress from baseline
- Continue to coordinate with CDE to share statewide data trends in 9th grade on track
- Data
- Year 1
Funding Information
- They anticipate awarding grants of up to $150,000 per year for two years ($300,000 total) from Gary Community Ventures, with a third-year contingent on successfully meeting milestones and securing additional funders
Criteria
- Priority will be given to proposals that:
- Have a clear background in supporting 9th Grade Success work in some way in Colorado
- Have existing relationships and/or work with schools and/or districts in Colorado
- Have existing relationships and/or work with CDE
- Have existing relationships and/or work with TA providers
- Have existing infrastructure they can bring to complement the funded 9th grade success work (ie: data capacity, communications capacity, etc.)
For more information, visit Gary Community Ventures (Gary).
