OLYMPIA – Sen. Steve Conway, D- South Tacoma, recently visited Fern Hill Elementary School to see firsthand how educators are working to help children graduate on time and overcome academic and non-academic challenges.
Conway’s visit focused on Communities in Schools, a program that places coordinators inside schools to assess students’ needs and provide resources to help them succeed in the classroom and in life.
“I was very impressed by the work Communities in Schools is doing to help all children have access to the services they need to succeed,” said Conway. “These programs are essential if we are going to close the opportunity gap.”
The opportunity gap is a deficiency in educational opportunities for low-income students and students of color. This year, the Legislature passed a bill that will implement policy changes to begin the process of closing this gap.
“Eliminating the opportunity gap should be thought of as a sound investment,” added Conway. “When kids have access to a high quality education they are more likely to get a good paying job and less likely to be reliant on safety net services.”
