Welcome Back to School Resources & Poster from Ready Washington and AWSP

Welcome back to school! We hope you were able to rest and refresh during the summer and are ready for another year of supporting students on their education journeys. Your hard work makes a huge difference in the lives of young people and their families. Thank you for your commitment and dedication! 

While the last few years have been challenging for our communities, the future in our state is bright. Employers in Washington state are expected to create an estimated 373,000 jobs in the coming five years, and they want to hire Washington students. A majority of these jobs will require or be filled by people who have earned a credential after high school, such as a two- or four-year degree, apprenticeship, or certificate. 

That is why we are sending the enclosed poster, which was co-created by four Washington young people, to encourage your students to use available resources to plan for their futures after high school graduation. We encourage you to display these posters in high-traffic areas, such as your main office, a counselor’s office, or central hallway. The QR code links to a web page with resources about how to apply for financial aid and opportunities like the Washington College Grant, as well as information to help students explore their interests and post-high school options. 

Support for this project was provided by Ready Washington, a coalition of state and local education agencies, associations – including AWSP – and advocacy organizations. Ready Washington believes that all students should graduate high school with the necessary skills and experiences to complete the education and career path they choose. 

We encourage you to follow @ReadyWA and @AWSP_Principals on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. Visit Ready Washington’s website, www.readywa.org, to download fact sheets, infographics, and videos for your communications with families and the public. Consider posting a picture of the poster in your hallway and tag Ready Washington on social media (@ReadyWA) and use the hashtag #PlanYourPathWA for the chance to win a $100 gift card for your school. 

If you have any questions about the poster, please contact Ingrid Stegemoeller, Ready Washington’s facilitator and Partnership for Learning communications director, at ingrid@partnership4learning.org. We hope this poster engages students in accessing resources that will help them achieve their dreams.