College Opportunity News

2) Students meet with Assembly Members in district offices and urge them to support Early Commitment to College  Go to this article >>

3) Fresno KnowHow2Go events bring together hundreds from Southeast Asian and African American communities to learn about college  Go to this article >>

4) Campaign hosts conversation on the Basic Skills Initiative with Community College Academic Senate President Mark Wade Lieu  Go to this article >>

5) Campaign for College Opportunity Supporters in the news:  Go to this article >>

• Oakland Tribune publishes SB 890 op-ed by Board Member Chuck Mack

• Patterson Irrigator story profiles Youth Ambassador Madeleine Ielmini

• Chronicle of Higher Education article features model early commitment to college program, Compact for Success

6) Upcoming events: Regional receptions for Save Me a Spot in College Contest winners scheduled across the State; CSU Super Saturday College Fair at Dominguez Hills campus  Go to this article >>

1) State Assembly Education and Higher Education Committees approve Early Commitment to College Bill (SB 890); Next step: Assembly Appropriations Committee  << Return to top

Early Commitment to College made it through its first two Committees in the State Assembly this month. Both the Assembly Education and Higher Education Committees voted to move the bill on to the Appropriations Committee, chaired by Assembly Member Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), where it will be voted on by the end of August.

Please join us by having your organization submit a letter of support to Assembly Member Leno and the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Click here to download a sample letter.

The continued success of SB 890 as it makes its way through the State Legislature has been made possible by the bi-partisan group of co-authors and growing list of over 100 bill supporters.

Early Commitment to College would give 6th through 9th grade low-income students in California the opportunity to sign a Save Me a Spot in College Pledge and commit to finish high school, achieve academically and apply for financial aid. In return, California will commit to these students two years of community college tuition free, as well as admission to UC and CSU and receipt of a CalGrant, if the student meets eligibility requirements and applies. To learn about the research behind this proposal, download the "Early College Commitment" report and Executive Summary.

2) Students ask Assembly Members to “save us a spot in college” and urge them to support Early Commitment to College  << Return to top

Throughout the months of July and August Assembly Members from one end of the state to the other will be visited by our coalition supporters and students in their district offices to learn about Early Commitment to College and hear from students who submitted written word, poster, and TV ad entries to the “Save Me a Spot in College” Contest.

For most students, including Jessica Yen and Calvin Lee (pictured on either side of Assemblywoman Fiona Ma D-South San Francisco on a recent visit), this was the first time they have visited any of their elected officials. These visits give students an opportunity to engage in the political process, share their creative contest entries, and talk with their elected officials about college access.

The following is a list of Assembly Members who are meeting with the Campaign for College Opportunity this summer about SB 890. If you or your organization would like to participate in these visits, please contact michele@collegecampaign.org. (Assembly Members listed from north to south.)

3) Fresno KnowHow2Go events bring together hundreds from Southeast Asian and African American communities to learn about college  << Return to top

Late this spring, a panel of community partners representing the Southeast Asian, Latino, and African American communities and ethnic media in the Central Valley came together with the Campaign for College Opportunity and New America Media to design a series of KnowHow2Go events to reach out to students with a culturally relevant message that college is affordable and within reach.

Out of this effort, the Fresno Center for New Americans, Fresno State University, and Fresno City College joined us to produce an event on June 21st focusing on students in Southeast Asian communities. Over 220 students and parents attended this event. The keynote speaker was Jamie Xiong, a lawyer with Central California Rural Legal Assistance, who shared her story of being married at 14, having two children by the time she finished high school, and how she pursued her dream of becoming a lawyer. Her message to students and parents was to take advantage of the opportunities offered to you.

Read the New America Media article profiling Jamie Xiong's life.

The Fresno West Coalition and Fresno State University joined us to design an event geared toward African American students on June 30th which drew over 100 students and parents and featured a praise dance (pictured at left) and a sermon delivered by respected community leader Dr. Jerome Jackson, a Fresno State faculty member and local reverend. “Through education, we embrace the old to achieve what is new - the future is a special time and place, and education is important to the future.” The event attracted the attention of local radio station Hot 97.1, which volunteered to broadcast live music from the courtyard.

On April 21st, an event geared towards the Latino community was held at CalState Bakersfield that drew nearly a thousand students and parents.

4) Campaign hosts conversation on the Basic Skills Initiative with Community College Academic Senate President Mark Wade Lieu  << Return to top

The Campaign for College Opportunity hosted a conversation via telephone conference call on July 2nd with nearly 100 participants to hear a report on the status of the Basic Skills Initiative. Co-hosted with California Tomorrow, the event gave Mark Wade Lieu, the new President of the Academic Senate of the California Community Colleges, a chance to share a report on the progress of the initiative and what lies ahead in the coming year.

The Basic Skills Initiative is a major reform strategy to strengthen instruction and delivery of services to the large number of community college students who enter below college-level proficiency in English and in mathematics.

Click on the following links to learn more, or to hear excerpts from Mark Wade Lieu's briefing.

You can also download a letter to the Governor to express your support for the Basic Skills Initiative.

5) Campaign for College Opportunity supporters in the news:   << Return to top

Oakland Tribune publishes op-ed about SB 890 by CCO Board Member Chuck Mack

“...California faces a serious shortage of college-educated workers compared to the demands in the economy. We cannot afford to lose our competitive edge in the global economy...” Read the full op-ed.

Chuck Mack is secretary-treasurer of Oakland-based Teamsters Local 70 and a board member of the Campaign for College Opportunity.

Patterson Irrigator story profiles CCO Youth Ambassador Madeleine Ielmini

“...Last year, Madeleine heard an announcement at Creekside Middle School about a "Save Me a Spot in College" essay contest and entered... Over the past year, she has talked with her friends, put up posters at her school and met with legislators in Sacramento to tout the value of college education...” Read the full story.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a Youth Ambassador with the Campaign for College Opportunity, please sign-up.

Chronicle of Higher Education article features model early commitment to college program, Compact for Success

“...Rather than try to help certain students from a handful of schools, as many programs do, the university is trying to improve preparation across California's largest secondary-school district...” Read the full article.

6) Upcoming events: Regional receptions for Save Me a Spot in College Contest winners scheduled across the State; CSU Super Saturday College Fair at Dominguez Hills campus  << Return to top

Save Me a Spot in College Contest - Regional Awards Receptions

Please join the Campaign for College Opportunity to celebrate the contest winners and participants. Come and hear their inspiring essays, enjoy viewing their creative posters and TV ad entries, and help us honor each of them in their journey towards a college education. Receptions will be held all over the State - see below to find one in your area.

Fullerton – Thur., July 26, 2007 - 4:00pm to 6:00pm
RSVP to bob@collegecampaign.org

San Francisco – Wed., August 1, 2007 - 5:30pm to 7:30pm
RSVP by July 27th to danielle@collegecampaign.org

Los Angeles – Thur., August 2, 2007 - 5:30pm to 7:30pm
RSVP by July 27th to sue@collegecampaign.org

Riverside – Wed., August 8, 2007 - 5:30pm to 7:30pm
RSVP by August 3rd to maria@collegecampaign.org

Earlier this month, receptions were held in Turlock, Fresno, Redding, and San Diego.

When: Saturday, August 4, 2007 from 10am to 2pm
Where: CSU Dominguez Hills, 1000 E. Victoria Street, Carson, CA