California has a pipeline problem -- an education pipeline problem.
The state, in its 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education, made a commitment that "all Californians should be afforded the opportunity to receive a college education." That promise made California a national model.
But that dream of opportunity has dimmed. California has dropped to 40th in the nation in the percentage of students entering college after high school. In the Central Valley and Inland Empire, only 20 percent to 45 percent go from high school to college.
The pieces exist for greater numbers of Californians to pursue and complete college, but they're scattered.
State Sen. Jack Scott and Assemblyman Anthony Portantino want to change that, particularly for first-generation and lower-income college-goers. They've introduced an "Early College Commitment" bill. Senate Bill 890 is modeled on Indiana's Twenty-first Century Scholars Program. In that state, lower-income seventh- and eighth-graders sign a pledge to the state, and if they fulfill it, they get four years of public college tuition at any participating college. In 1986, Indiana was 40th in the nation in college-going rates; by 2002, it was ninth. The program has been a success.
The idea is to get students interested in college early, long before high school dropout problems begin. It also gives families a realistic idea of what college is about, how to prepare for it and pay for it.
SB 890 would establish "college opportunity zones" in school districts with high proportions of low-income students, which tend to have the lowest college-going rates. Students in sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth grades would be given the opportunity to sign a "Save Me a Spot in College" pledge. In other districts, students who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals also could sign a pledge. They would pledge to take college prep or career-technical coursework, finish high school, file an application for financial aid and enroll in college.
Participating school districts and partner colleges would provide "Roadmap to College" services, to introduce students to college life.
Equally important, the bill would encourage nonprofit, business and community organizations to get involved. The key is to link students, parents and their communities to foster an encouraging academic environment.
Since this builds on existing state commitments and programs, it would cost very little -- basically the cost of identifying school districts and tracking students. But it should help reduce dropout rates and increase college-going rates.
California needs to get beyond the rhetoric of "universal access" to make the college dream real again for a new generation of Californians. SB 890 moves the state along in that direction.
