College Opportunity News

Volume 4, Issue 1, January 25, 2008

all photos by Rebecca Meyer

As the State Legislature reconvened and Governor Schwarzenegger prepared to give his state-of-the-state address, education advocates converged in Sacramento to urge California's lawmakers to pass SB 890 Early Commitment to College.  

This event came on the heals of new data that reveals that California has slipped from 40th to 48th in the nation in the percentage of high school students who go directly to college, including both 2-year and 4-year colleges. 

The strategy of SB 890 is powerful and unique because it packages college and financial aid opportunities into one commitment made to students at an early age – starting in the 6th grade.  And most importantly, passage of the bill is a definitive step that lawmakers can take in a year of belt-tightening, because of its low $125,000 cost, to address education issues and California's steady college-going downturn.

Senator Jack Scott who authored SB 890 noted, "I've become increasingly concerned that we're not doing all we should to prepare for the future of higher education in this state.  The demand for educated workers in California will soon outstrip supply and if we do not provide education for our citizens, we will lose our competitive edge."

The Early Commitment to College Act, SB 890, would renew the promise made in the state's 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education:  that every qualified student will have the opportunity to attend a community college or university. 

SB 890 will be voted on this year in the Assembly Appropriations Committee, chaired by Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco).

Education experts, policymakers, and elementary and high school students convened to recognize 15 emerging 'Practices with Promise' – working solutions for college access and success already underway in schools and colleges across the state. 

Senators Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch) and Denise Moreno-Ducheny (D-San Diego) joined Assemblymembers Anthony Portantino (D-Pasadena), John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), Mike Davis (D-Los Angeles), Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont), and Tom Berryhill (R-Modesto) to honor these 15 organizations.

Attendees also heard from Dowell Myers and Hans Johnson, two of the top demographers of California, about the importance of improving education attainment now for the future of the state and its economy.

Hans Johnson (pictured at right) spoke about California’s past reliance on highly skilled workers from other parts of the country as well as other parts of the world.  His study concluded that California can no longer meet its workforce needs by relying on college educated people from elsewhere.  Fewer people want to move to California and good labor markets exist around the world that are attracting college educated people.

Dowell Myers spotlighted connections between educating today's young people with the needs of the retiring Baby Boomers.  Notably, he connected the impact of education on home ownership and the housing market in California.  California, alongside the rest of the United States, is on the cusp of a major retirement wave of highly educated Baby Boomers.

• Follow this link to read more about the Public Policy Institute of California's report by Hans Johnson and Deborah Reed:   "Can California Import Enough College Graduates to Meet Workforce Needs".

• Follow this link for more information about Dowell Myer's new book, Immigrants and Boomers, or go to "USC Professor Dowell Myers' research homesite". 

Maribel Escalera and Eric Kambestad are sixth graders in the Galt Elementary School District, located 25 miles south of Sacramento in the Central Valley. Since the 4th grade, both students have been involved in the Passport to College program run by San Joaquin Delta College.  The program is a partnership between San Joaquin Delta College and local school districts and is a model for the SB 890 Early Commitment to College program.   (Maribel and Eric, pictured at left, on the Capitol Mall in Sacramento.)

Eric Kambestad, 11, said, "I'm an actor but I have a back-up plan. If I keep good grades I'll be in criminal justice at Delta."  (Both Eric, pictured at right, and Maribel spoke in front of an audience of more than 160 people, telling them about their experiences in Passport to College.)

Students who sign up for the program are guaranteed 2 years of free tuition at Delta College if they fulfill their compact which includes graduating with a GED or diploma within the area.  Staff from the College give presentations and coordinate field trips for students starting in elementary school.  The goal of the program is to increase college-going in a region that has lower college-going rates than other parts of the state.  (Maribel and Eric accompanied a delegation of SB 890 supporters to visit California Secretary of Education Dr. David Long, pictured at left.)

"I'm a good student," said Maribel. "I've been working hard and I can get those two years free if I get good grades." By reaching students early and ensuring that they know the steps they need to take before they start high school, Delta College believes they can help more students reach college.

• Fox 6 News - San Diego, January 9, 2008 (Video Clip)

• ABC 10 News - Sacramento, January 8, 2008 (Video Clip)

• Oakland Tribune, January 8, 2008 (various versions of this story also appeared in the San Mateo Times, The Argus, The Oroville Mercury-Register, The Alameda Times-Star, and the Tri-Valley Herald)

• San Bernardino Sun, January 10, 2008 

• Vallejo Times Herald, January 9. 2008  

• La Opinión, January 7. 2008

2)

Know How to Go:  The Road to College La Opinión reaches 167,000 people with this bilingual insert.     back to top>>

La Opinión, the largest Spanish language daily newspaper in the U.S., with a circulation of 167,000 people worked with the Campaign for College Opportunity and our partners to produce an insert for the Sunday paper on January 6th. 

The bilingual insert includes the key information that students need to understand in order to get it into to college, including:

• Reasons to go to college

• Opportunities provided at community college, CSUs, UCs, and private colleges or universities

• Year-by-year steps to take, starting in the 7th grade, and a high school planning chart

• Key facts about financial aid and the FAFSA federal financial aid application

• A profile of Assembly Majority Floor Leader Karen Bass and others whose education opened doors to their future

For more information on how to help someone you know get ready for college, visit www.knowhow2gocalifornia.org, a CCO effort sponsored by the Lumina Foundation.  To order copies of "The Road to College" for your family or your school, please email info@collegecampaign.org.

"The Road to College" was a collaboration between CCO and the Southern California Collaborative for College Access.  Special thanks goes to the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, California State University, and Southern California Edison.

Road to College photo courtesy of La Opinión

3)

Support grows for SB 890 Early Commitment to College See the latest list of 45 bi-partisan Co-Authors and 112 organizational supporters from across the state.     back to top>>

Since August 2007 the following new Co-Authors have been added to the bill:

Senators

• Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana)

Assemblymembers

• Greg Aghazarian (R-Stockton)

• Patty Berg (D-Santa Rosa)

• Ana Caballero (D-Salinas)

• Wilmer Amina Carter (D-San Bernardino)

• Joe Coto (D-San Jose)

• Mark DeSaulnier (D-Martinez)

• Bill Emmerson (R-Rancho Cucamonga)

• Mike Feuer (D-West Hollywood)

• Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield)

• Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael)

• Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton)

• Sally Lieber (D-Mountain View)

• Tony Mendoza (D-Norwalk)

• Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara)

• Curren Price (D-Los Angeles)

• Mary Salas (D-Chula Vista)

• Sandré Swanson (D-Oakland)

You may also view the complete list of all Co-Authors and supporters.

4)

2008 "Save Me a Spot in College" Youth scholarship contest is underway.     back to top>>

Students will receive scholarships ranging from $500 to $2500 in three categories:  written word, poster, and TV ad.  There will be winners for middle school (6th through 8th grades) and high school (9th through 12th grades) in all categories.

Students are asked to respond to the question:  Why should California leaders save me and my peers a spot in college?

The contest is open to all 6-12th grade students in California, and it's completely FREE to enter.  The entry deadline is March 15, 2008.  All winners will be announced in early June.

We encourage you to promote student participation at your school, community organization or church.  Free promotional materials (postcards, flyers, and posters) are available. 

Click here for a Partnership Form, where you can request these materials and get your school/organization recognized for its efforts to involve youth in this contest.  You may also request a presentation in your 6th to 12th grade classroom or youth group about the Contest and what students need to know about college.  Students can still participate in the contest if there is no Partnership established.  Check out this link to learn more about using this contest at your school.

Click on this link to the contest website to learn more about the contest, how students can register and submit an entry, contest rules, and other helpful information.

We would like to thank the College Access Fund of California for their support for the "Save Me a Spot in College" Contest.

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