Shelton Promise expands tuition-free access to Evergreen State College, superintendent says

Superintendent Jesse told the Shelton School District Board of Directors that the district is a recipient of a state-legislated Shelton Promise grant that will allow eligible Shelton graduates to attend Evergreen State College tuition-free.

Jesse said the benefit applies to students who graduated from the Shelton School District last year and this year who meet Evergreen’s eligibility and enrollment requirements. He added that on-campus housing costs and books will be scaled based on family income for students who live on campus.

"Previously, two years ago, we only had three students from the school district go to Evergreen State. We have 51 students enrolled in Evergreen State—that's one in seven graduates from the school district that are going to Evergreen State tuition free for college," Superintendent Jesse said.

Jesse said the district will share more information at upcoming events and that he plans to meet with Evergreen State’s president to coordinate outreach. He identified an October 13 event as a forthcoming opportunity for families to learn more.

District officials did not give a full list of eligibility criteria in the meeting; Jesse said students must meet Evergreen State’s eligibility and enrollment requirements. The district also did not provide a complete count of how many current-year graduates will use the program; the 51 number was presented as current enrollments at Evergreen.

The announcement came during the superintendent’s report amid other start-of-year updates about open houses, roundtable community meetings, and student activities.

The board did not take formal action on the Shelton Promise during the meeting; the item was an informational report from the superintendent.