Green River Community College, which offers Running Start to students in the Kent and Tahoma School Districts, was selected to join Achieving the Dream, a nationwide reform network dedicated to closing the achievement gap at colleges and increasing student success. Green River joins 17 other colleges in Washington state as an Achieving the Dream institution.

As part of the ATD network, Green River will analyze data across many different areas to identify institutional strengths, and achievement gaps. The college will work with other ATD institutions, and receive assistance from experienced practitioners in using data to set priorities and create strategies targeted at increasing student success and closing the gaps.

During the next three years, Green River will work with the ATD network to identify barriers to student achievement and opportunities for improvement, formulate strategies to address gaps, develop an implementation plan and establish a culture of evidence for continuous improvement.