A Statewide Vision Realized: How Washington Chose SchooLinks

From Fragmentation to Equity

In 2023, Washington State’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) launched a bold initiative: implement a single, universal platform to fulfill the High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP) requirement for all students in grades 7–12.

Their goal? Create a consistent and equitable CCR experience across all school districts—regardless of geography or resources.

"Beginning in the 2025–26 school year, students in grades 7–12 will have annual access to SchooLinks to help them plan for college, apprenticeships, military, and more."
– Chris Reykdal, Washington State Superintendent

Why SchooLinks Was Selected

Following a competitive RFP in May 2024, OSPI named SchooLinks as Washington’s official CCR platform. SchooLinks was chosen for its:

• ✅ Comprehensive planning tools for college, career, and beyond
• ✅ Integrated work-based learning feeds, including state partner opportunities
• ✅ Engaging, student-centered experience
• ✅ Real-time, scalable reporting for state and district leaders
• ✅ Privacy and security built for state-level deployment

By 2027, SchooLinks will support all 295 LEAs in Washington.

District Spotlights: Real Results at the Local Level

Spokane Public Schools

📍 47 Schools | 30,400 Students | 5 Years with SchooLinks

Before: Low engagement with Naviance. Manual tracking for counselors.
After:

• 500% increase in career assessments
• 186% increase in middle school logins
• Fully student-driven adoption
• Improved data for district strategy

"The platform is student-centered. It’s exactly what we needed."
– Scott Kerwien, Executive Director of Student Success

Mead School District

📍 15 Schools | 10,000 Students | 1 Year with SchooLinks

Before: Disconnected tools mandated by the state
After:

• Immediate student adoption via single sign-on
• Counselors now use real-time dashboards
• All postsecondary tracking in one place
• High off-hours student usage = genuine engagement

"If students are using your platform on their own time, that’s powerful."
– Josh Cowart, College & Career Counselor

What Makes SchooLinks Ideal for Statewide CCR

• Student-First Design: Engaging UX built to reduce friction and increase ownership
• Scalability at Scale: From rural to urban, 100 to 100,000 students
• Comprehensive Toolset: Course planning, FAFSA, Common App, WBL, scholarships, and more
• Integrated Support: Tools for counselors, students, parents, and state leaders alike

"SchooLinks is not just another checkbox. It’s where planning happens."
– Josh Cowart, Mead SD

A Blueprint for Other States

Washington is proving that statewide CCR equity and innovation can go hand in hand.

• 📊 80% of students onboarded by 2025
• 🌐 100% of districts served by 2027
• 🚀 Statewide CCR strategy + local flexibility

See why SchooLinks is the trusted CCR partner—for districts and entire states.

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