College Opportunity News
Volume 4, Issue 5, December 9, 2008
In this issue:
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December 1st Reception to Honor the Legislative Career of Senator Jack Scott and the Passage of SB 890 Early Commitment to College
CCO staff along with board members, friends and colleagues honored the accomplishments and career of Senator Jack Scott and the passage of SB 890.
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2008 'Practices with Promise' Report Highlights 15 Exemplary Programs
Practices with Promise is a unique opportunity for educators across the state to put forward emerging solutions for improving college access, success, and affordability based on their own experiences at their institutions.
<< Learn more |
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Campaign for College Opportunity Presents at the Community College League of California Conference
CCO held a workshop to discuss innovative community college programs with eight of the education leaders recognized in the Practices with Promise Report.
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2009 Save Me a Spot in College Scholarship Contest Kicks Off with New Website
On November 1st, CCO unveiled its new and updated Save Me a Spot in College Scholarship Contest website that makes it even easier for California students to enter. The deadline is March 15, 2009.
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Modesto Junior College Embraces Early Commitment to College
Inspired by SB 890 and the Passport to College Program at San Joaquin Delta College, Modesto Junior College created a program that teaches middle school students about going to college.
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Funding Update
Citigroup Foundation Awards CCO with a $45,000 grant to launch Early Commitment to College in Los Angeles, Fresno, and the Bay Area.
<< Learn more |
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CCO in the News
The Campaign has been geting a lot of buzz in the media lately. Read recent articles and view the NBC Channel 4 Los Angeles news segment.
<< Learn more |
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December 1st Reception to Honor the Legislative Career of Senator Jack Scott and the Passage of SB 890 Early Commitment to College
CCO staff along with board members, friends and colleagues honored the accomplishments and career of Senator Jack Scott and the passage of SB 890. back to top>> |
On Monday, December 1st, CCO celebrated the passage of Early Commitment to College and honored the accomplishments and career of State Senator Jack Scott. Senator Scott will assume the role of Chancellor of the California Community College System on January 1, 2009. Joined by CCO Board Members Maria Casillas, John Trasviña and Herb Carter the event was an overwhelming success with over 70 people in attendance. Jack Scott has served as the State Senator from the 21st District for the past eight years, which includes Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, a portion of the city of Los Angeles, and other surrounding cities and communities. Prior to serving in the Senate, Senator Scott was a State Assemblyman from 1996 to 2000. During his tenure, Senator Scott had the highest success rate in the Legislature of bills signed into law, with over 57 percent (146 bills) becoming law.
 Some of these key measures include enacting sweeping changes to increase the supply and quality of teachers in California's classrooms, providing loans to help classroom aides get their teaching credentials and become teachers, making student loan interest tax deductible, addressing the critical nursing shortage, strengthening vocational education programs, streamlining the transfer process for community college students, and creating a new funding system for California community colleges.
In 2008, Senator Scott worked tirelessly alongside the Campaign to ensure passage of Early Commitment to College so that low-income students and their parents would be informed as early as 6th grade of their opportunities to go to college in California and access financial aid.
Senator Scott is committed to educating California's next generation of young people by working hard to provide them a quality education and the opportunity to go to college and succeed. We look forward to his continued leadership as he assumes the position of Chancellor for the California Community College System.
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2008 'Practices with Promise' Report Highlights 15 Exemplary Programs
Practices with Promise is a unique opportunity for educators across the state to put forward emerging solutions for improving college access, success, and affordability based on their own experiences at their institutions. back to top>> |
Educators are taking enormous initiative to improve college access and success, according to a report released last month by the Campaign which highlights fifteen ‘Practices with Promise’. These programs are making a difference for students today and show promise for the state’s future. As California’s policymakers and education leaders improve educational and economic competitiveness, they may look to the lessons learned from these working solutions.
 Last spring, 102 practices were submitted from across the state. After extensive review by education leaders and advocates, 15 exemplary practices are being recognized for their quality, innovation, and potential to shed new light on what California education leaders and policymakers can do to expand college opportunity and improve student access.
The 2008 Practices with Promise are:
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Amgen Foundation Bruce Wallace Biotechnology Laboratory Program
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Cal-PASS Freshman Composition Alignment Project at Grossmont College and San Diego State University
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College OPTIONS
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Departmental Final Exam for English A at Sierra College
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Diablo Valley College Financial Aid Student PLAN Program
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Dual Enrollment Program at Santa Barbara City College
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Increasing College Access for English Language Learners in Higher Education at Santa Rosa Junior College
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The K-16 Bridge Program in Victor Valley
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CSU Partnering for Greater Access to Higher Education
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Passport to College at San Joaquin Delta College
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Project Success Learning Communities at the Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District
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Reducing the Attrition Rate of Associate Degree Nursing Students at Los Rios Community College District
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Stanford Medical Youth Science Program
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Transcript Evaluation Service (TES) of the UC Early Academic Outreach Program
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The Ventura College Promise
Please visit our website to read details about these practices.
The report highlights a number of key recommendations including initiatives and strategies that could be built upon for wider statewide impact. These recommendations include:
 Start Early – Reach out to students as early as middle school and, if possible, make an early commitment of college and financial aid.
Provide a Clear Path – Create a structured pathway for students to succeed in reaching their higher education goals from college enrollment through to completion by integrating instruction, student services, and financial aid and ensuring strong links between K-12, community colleges, and four-year universities.
Support Public and Private Partnerships – Encourage colleges, universities, and industry to work together on workforce preparation in high demand career technical, health, science, technology, engineering, and math fields.
Track Progress – Invest in systems to analyze student progress over time and use the data to provide appropriate interventions and improve student success.
Please see these recent articles highlighting several of the practices:
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Cal-PASS Freshman Composition Alignment Project and Project Success Learning Communities in the San Diego Union Tribune
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Campaign for College Opportunity Presents at the Community College League of California Conference
CCO held a workshop to discuss innovative community college programs with eight of the education leaders recognized in the Practices with Promise Report. back to top>> |
The Campaign released the 2008 'Practices with Promise' report at the Community College League of California Conference at the end of November through a conference workshop and a booth in the exhibition hall. Twelve of the 15 highlighted programs came from community colleges around the state.
 The conference which took place in Anaheim, CA from Nov. 20th through the 22nd, was titled Strengthening California Through Student Success and brought together community college trustees, presidents, staff and administrators to exchange strategic plans for the future of students in California.
Presenters from eight of the practices spoke alongside CCO Executive Director Michele Siqueiros in the conference workshop which shared both the goals of the Practices with Promise report as well as the specifics of each program honored for its efforts to improve college access and student success in California.
The speakers included Daniel Valdivia for College OPTIONS, Sue Jensen from Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District, David Reyes from Diablo Valley College, Diane Hollems and Marilyn Spaventa both from Santa Barbara City College, Robin Calote from The Ventura College Promise, Martin Ikkanda from the Amgen Foundation Bruce Wallace Biotechnology Laboratory Program, Chris Piercy from the K-16 Bridge Program and Julie Whiting from the San Joaquin Delta College Passport to College.
The workshop was successful in giving an in-depth look at many of these programs and connecting community college leaders to one another in an effort to promote better programs and outcomes.
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2009 Save Me a Spot In College Scholarship Contest Kicks Off With New Website
On November 1st, CCO unveiled its new and updated Save Me a Spot in College Scholarship Contest website that makes it even easier for California students to enter. The deadline is March 15, 2009. back to top>> |
Thanks to the generous support from the College Access Foundation the Save Me A Spot In College Scholarship Contest has returned for a fourth year. The contest kicked off November 1st, 2008, and the deadline to submit entries is March 15th, 2009. In order to share the voice of young Californians, we are asking them to answer the question, "Why should California leaders save you and your peers a spot in college?" In a year when budget cuts threaten access to higher education, these voices are even more important and will be shared with California leaders and policy makers.
 Students: Submit your entry before February 1st and you could win a $500 dollar early bird scholarship just for entering early. Remember the deadline is March 15th, 2009. Over 200 students across California will share more than $125,000 in scholarship awards.
Educators: If you are an educator, administrator, or youth organizer, please visit the site to become a “Save Me a Spot in College” Contest partnerContest Main Page. You can receive free materials for your class or school to get your students involved.
To learn more about the scholarship contest and entry information please check out our website at www.collegecampaign.org/contest. Encourage every 6th to 12th grade student in California to enter because youth voices need to be heard! Students can submit their entry forms online and contest partners can sign up on the site.
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Modesto Junior College Embraces Early Commitment to College
Inspired by SB 890 and the Passport to College Program at San Joaquin Delta College, Modesto Junior College created a new program that teaches middle school students about going to college. back to top>> |
As we celebrate the passage of SB 890, we now look to our partners to help us implement Early Commitment to College in school districts across California. One program in the Central Valley is doing just that.
 During the 2007-2008 academic year Dr. Richard Rose, President of Modesto Junior College (MJC), formed a collaborative team of educators and business leaders to start the Passport to College program in Modesto, an early outreach program. He envisioned it as an investment in youth and a way to improve the college-going rate in the area while promoting economic growth and family stability.
Working with Modesto City Schools, CCO, and various community partners, MJC gives fifth grade students at three low-income elementary schools in the district the opportunity to enroll in the Passport to College program. Students are offered academic and student support services as they progress through high school graduation. Passport participants visit the MJC campuses annually to meet with college staff, tour classrooms and laboratories, and learn about college majors. Students who complete program requirements and graduate from a high school in the Modesto City School District are eligible for the Passport Scholarship that covers the cost of enrollment fees for two years at MJC.
The Passport Scholarship fund is growing through sponsorships and donations from local businesses. Now in its second year, the Passport program has enrolled more than 650 students. Passport to College is a shining example of the Early Commitment to College program that joins similar statewide programs like Compact for Success at CSU San Diego, the K-16 Bridge Program in Victor Valley, The Ventura College Promise and Passport to College at Delta College in Stockton.
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Funding Update
Citigroup Foundation awards CCO with a $45,000 grant to launch Early Commitment to College in Los Angeles, Fresno and the Bay Area. back to top>> |
The Campaign would like to thank the Citigroup Foundation for a $45,000 grant committed to begin the implementation of Early Commitment to College in Los Angeles, Fresno, and the Bay Area. Working closely with the California Department of Education and the Intersegmental Coordinating Committee, CCO plans to launch the program in 2009.
Los Angeles Unified School District, the largest school district in the state with over 700,000 students, will be one of the first districts to participate. School districts across the state have been investing in programs geared towards teaching middle schoolers about college, such as “San Francisco Promise”, a partnership between San Francisco Unified School District and San Francisco State University, and “Passport to College”, a partnership between San Joaquin Delta College and local school districts. The Early Commitment to College program will allow the Department of Education to leverage these types of programs into a statewide program, reaching many more students, while still allowing local regions to develop curriculum and partnerships that address their local needs.
As part of Early Commitment to College, students and their parents or legal guardians will sign the “Save Me a Spot in College” pledge to finish high school, take courses to prepare for college, and complete the FAFSA (federal financial aid application) by March 2nd of their senior year. In return, the state will ensure that there is a spot for every student in one of California’s community colleges or in a CSU or UC if the student meets admission requirements. The state also pledges financial aid for eligible students once they reach college to help pay for fees, books, supplies, and living expenses.
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CCO in the News
The Campaign has been getting a lot of buzz in the media lately. Read recent articles and view the NBC Channel 4 Los Angeles news segment. back to top>> |
Recent news articles and stories have been paying attention to the education crisis is California. Please see the links below for CCO related media news.
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