HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg 2025-08-18 Handout to be Distributed at Meeting - Tukwila Promise Scholarship ProgramTO:
City of Tukwila
Thomas McLeod, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
Mayor McLeod
City Council
FROM: Marty Wine, City Administrator
DATE: August 18, 2025
SUBJECT: Tukwila Promise Scholarship Program Memorandum of Understanding
ISSUE
The City has partnered with Washington State Opportunity Scholarship, the Tukwila School
District and Highline College to form the Tukwila Promise Scholarship Program. The
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS)
is above the Mayor's signing authority.
BACKGROUND
City Council approved $200,000 for the Tukwila Promise Program in the 2025-2026 Budget with
$65,000 allocated for 2025 and $135,000 allocated for 2026.
DISCUSSION
HB 1587 2025-26, co -sponsored by Representative Steve Bergquist, expanded the Washington
State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS) program to include local government partner promise
scholarship programs. Tukwila staff worked closely with WSOS, the Tukwila School District and
Highline College to develop the Tukwila Promise program. The attached Memorandum of
Understanding obligates Tukwila to issue grant funds to WSOS.
The Tukwila School District started the enrollment process this Spring and worked closely with
Highline College to identify students eligible for Tukwila Promise funds, which are gap funds to
pay the recipients total tuition fees (up to an AA Degree or completion of a certificate program)
Tess any other grant and/or scholarship funds; WSOS will administer the funds to eligible
students. Tukwila committed $65,000 for 2025 and $135,000 for 2026. These funds are then
matched by the state and dedicated to Tukwila School District students attending Highline. In
2024, 16 Foster High School graduates attended Highline College in comparison to this year
where Foster High School currently has 50+ graduates from the class of 2025 who have
completed the Tukwila Promise enrollment forms to attend Highline College this Fall.
RECOMMENDATION
Council is being asked to authorize Mayor McLeod to sign the MOU with WSOS for the Tukwila
Promise Scholarship Program in the amount of $200,000.
ATTACHMENTS
Tukwila Promise Scholarship Program Memorandum of Understanding
Docusign Envelope ID: 44DC5DF3-9E17-45FC-B4C0-A962E77EB377
W'ASHiNGTON STATE
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Tukwila Promise Scholarship Program
administered by the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship
Memorandum of Understanding
This Memorandum of Understanding defines the roles and responsibilities of Tukwila (the
"Grantor") and The Washington State Opportunity Scholarship Foundation (WSOSF) dba
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS), a Washington nonprofit corporation
(the "Grantee"), in establishing a Tukwila Promise Scholarship, to be administered by WSOS.
A. Grant Amount and Purpose of the Grant
The amount of the grant from Grantor to Grantee is 200,000 with $65,000 paid within 30 days of
the Grantor and Grantee executing this Memorandum and $135,000 on or before June 30,
2026. Upon receipt of the pledge, the Grantee will request the appropriation of a 100% match
from the state of Washington. Per HB 1587, 10% of the local government partner funds,
excluding state matching funds, will be used for the operational costs to implement the program.
Therefore, $6,500 in 2025 and $13,500 in 2026 of Tukwila's investment will be retained by
WSOS to execute operational costs spelled out in this agreement until all of Tukwila's original
investment and the state match has been expended. The remaining $380,000 will be available
for Tukwila Promise recipients.
B. Responsibilities of WSOS
As Grantee, WSOS will:
Disburse scholarship awards on behalf of Tukwila Promise recipients, as determined by the program
rules set by the City of Tukwila.
Publish data on the number of students selected as part of Tukwila Promise and the dollars disbursed
in the annual legislative report.
At any time, the City of Tukwila and WSOS may mutually agree to amend the agreement to add additional
programmatic support from the broader WSOS program, such as application or marketing support, for an
additional agreed -upon fee.
C. Responsibilities of Tukwila
As the Grantor, the City of Tukwila will:
Establish the Promise Program's rules and eligibility;
Coordinate with Highline College to implement a selection and notification process
awarding Tukwila Promise funds;
877,899,5002
inlo@waopportunityschof arship.org
1414 31 st. Ave. South, Ste. 302, Seattle, WA 98144
waop portu ni tysch of arsh i p. org
Docusign Envelope ID: 44DC5DF3-9E17-45FC-B4C0-A962E77EB377
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Assure together with Highline College and Tukwila School District that student data is
shared with WSOS to allow WSOS to complete its notification, disbursement, and
legislative data reporting responsibilities;
Coordinate with Highline College to determine the value of the Tukwila Promise is, at a
minimum, the difference between the recipient's total tuition fees as defined in RCW
28B.15.020 and services and activities fees as defined in RCW 28 28B.15.041, less the
value of any state -funded grant including the college bound scholarship program
established in chapter 28B.118 RCW 30 and the Washington college grant created in RCW
28B.92.200, scholarship, gift aid, or waiver assistance the recipient receives. The local
government partner may provide additional scholarship awards to cover reasonable
expenses associated with the costs of acquiring an education such as books, equipment,
room and board, and other expenses as determined by the City of Tukwila;
Coordinate with Highline College to ensure that the recipient's eligibility is reconfirmed prior
to each disbursement.
D. Use of Scholarship Dollars
Grantee will use this grant and all associated state matching funds, less the administrative fee, to
fund Tukwila Promise Scholarship recipients until all funds are depleted. Following every
quarterly disbursement, WSOS will provide a report to the City of Tukwila indicating the amount of
funds disbursed and the remaining funds available.
When the investment reaches a point at which funds do not exist to cover the costs of an entire
seat, the Grantor may elect to contribute additional funds to completely fund the new seat. If the
Grantor takes no action, the Grantee will hold these funds for a full calendar year.
If the City of Tukwila declines to provide additional funds after a full calendar year from the time
notification was sent, the remaining funds will be released to support other WSOS recipients.
Should the Tukwila Promise program end before the city's investment and the state match have
been expended, the remaining funds will be released to support other WSOS recipients.
E. Treatment of Funds
Tukwila funds will be invested in accordance with the Grantee's Finance & Investment
Committee rules. Any interest earned on donated funds shall be used to advance the mission of
WSOS.
F. Source of Grant Funds
It is the Grantor's responsibility to understand the restrictions on its grant funds and ensure no
restrictions exist on those funds that would prohibit or restrict granting, matching, investing or
otherwise using the funds as described in this agreement. This includes ensuring that the
Grantor does not use state appropriated funds to finance any part of its grant. This also
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Docusign Envelope ID: 44DC5DF3-9E17-45FC-B4C0-A962E77EB377
W"ASHiNGTON STATE.
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includes ensuring that the Grantor does not require any documentation of costs, time and effort
reporting or other reporting that would delay payment or state match.
G. Term and Renewal
This Memo of Understanding will take effect immediately upon execution and will remain in
effect until the grant has been fully disbursed. The Tukwila Promise program administered by
WSOS may be renewed or extended at any time.
H. Payment
City of Tukwila shall pay WSOS according to the plan and payment terms:
Contributions will be paid via check.
2025: $ 65,000 within 30 days of the Grantor or Grantee executing this MOU.
2026: $135,000 on or before June 30, 2026.
I. Annual Legislative Report
Per HB 1587, WSOS will include Tukwila's total contributions and state moneys received and the
total number of students served in its annual Legislative Report, published on December 1. Other
application, selection, disbursement, or other reporting may be requested and mutually agreed
upon depending on scope and capacity.
J. Public Records Act
WSOS is subject to the Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW (the "Act"). To the extent that
the City of Tukwila keeps records which are deemed public records and are needed by WSOS
to respond to a request under the Act, as determined by the WSOS, the City of Tukwila agrees
to make the records promptly available.
K. Indemnification
As used in this Section, "Claims" means claims, demands, damages, costs, causes of actions,
liabilities, fines, penalties, judgments, expenses and attorney's fees of any kind. WSOS shall
protect, defend, and hold the City of Tukwila and its elected officials and employees harmless
from any and all Claims arising from the injury or death of any person or the damage to or
destruction of property (including Claims relating to the infringement of intellectual property
rights) resulting from (i) work under this Agreement, or (ii) negligence of City of Tukwila of its
officers, employees, subcontractors or agents, or (iii) A breach of this Agreement, including but
not limited to the City of Tukwila failure to comply with any applicable law, ordinance or
regulation applicable to work under this Agreement, or (iv) any other act or omission of the City
of Tukwila. City of Tukwila obligations under this Agreement shall not apply to any Claims
arising from the sole negligence of the City of Tukwila. The Agency acknowledges that its
obligations under this Section apply to any claims which may be brought by City of Tukwila own
877,899.5002
in io@waopportunityscholarship.org
1414 31 st, Ave. South, Ste. 302, Seattle, WA 98144
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employees, and City 0fTukwila hereby waives any immunity itmay have under RCVVTitle 51
or any other Worker's Compensation statute, but only as to WSOS and to the extent required
for City of Tukwila to fulfill its obligation to defend and hold VVG(]G h@rnl|8SS. The City Of
Tukwila obligations under this Section shall survive the expiration or termination of the
Agreement with respect toClaims which arise from events occurring prior tnthe expiration or
termination ofthe Agreement.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 44DC5DF3-9E17-45FC-B4C0-A962E77EB377
\WAS H [NG TON STATE
OPPORTUNITY
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This MOU shall become effective upon signing by authorized representatives of the City of
Tukwila, WSOSF, and WSOS.
City of Tukwila
Mayor Thomas McLeod
Date
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship
Executive Director Isabel Munoz -Colon Date
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship Foundation Date
Executive Director Kimber Connors
877,899.5002
info@waopportunityscholarship,org
1414 31st. Ave, South, Ste. 302, Seattle, WA 98144
waopportunityscholarship,org