5 cool Gates Foundation projects you probably haven’t heard of

The problem: Only a quarter of Washington state's students will earn a college degree, according to the Gates Foundation. And that's in large part due to the poverty cycle.

The solution: The Road Map Project will keep students on track in and out of school. "Seven school districts, six higher education institutions, local governments, and hundreds of community organizations, education leaders, teachers, and parents are involved in creating a system where every student has the opportunities they need to succeed," said The Gates Foundation.

Why it's cool: The foundation chose to focus on its own backyard.

Find out more