Cornerstone, a community-centered Chehalis partnership, recently received $863,420 through the Washington Student Achievement Council’s (WSAC) Regional Challenge Grant (RCG) renewal.
According to a news release dated Aug. 7, the funding, which will be distributed over the next two years, will enable the partnership to continue its mission to ensure students and families of the Chehalis School District (CSD) are equipped to thrive while pursuing their education goals.
“We are so thankful to have secured another two years of funding through WSAC's Regional Challenge Grant,” DeeDee Judd, Cornerstone’s education coordinator, said in the release. “This grant will allow us to continue to walk alongside our CSD families and get even further rooted within our community.”
Cornerstone provides opportunities and support to children while supporting their parents in their own educational and training goals. The organization describes itself as dedicated to removing barriers, strengthening family engagement and increasing student success.
By continuing this work, the partnership says it can continue to provide consistent support and connection to essential resources, programs and opportunities that positively impact student outcomes.
“Our Cornerstone Partnership is a true game changer,” Chehalis Superintendent Rick Goble said. “It allows us to walk alongside families, wherever they are on their journey, and ensure they can fully access and benefit from all that our schools have to offer.”
The Regional Challenge Grant was established through Senate Bill 5789 in 2022. The program awards competitive grants to regional partnerships that are working to increase post-secondary attainment and credential completion, while also closing opportunity gaps for students.
According to the release, the grant is one of seven Regional Challenge Grants recently renewed by WSAC, totaling $6.2 million in continued support for proven partnerships across Washington.
Despite the elimination of new RCG funding in the 2025–27 biennial state budget, WSAC sustained existing partnerships by awarding renewals at its May 20 council meeting.
“This work of partnering with regional leaders throughout the state is invaluable,” Mike Meotti, executive director of WSAC, said.
“As a state we're working toward bigger goals of social mobility and economic opportunity. Our local partnerships are critical to supporting meaningful change for individuals and propelling sustainable movement toward our statewide goals.”
Learn more about Cornerstone at https://chehalisschools.org/cornerstone/.
