Educational leaders want to work closely with lawmakers on legislation that would put students on an educational track - starting in sixth grade - that guarantees them a spot in college as long as they work for it.

The effort to get California's educational system turned around comes as news was recently disclosed that the state dropped last year from 40th in the nation to 48th in the percentage of students attending college, according to the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems.

The nonprofit group in Boulder, Colo., reported that less than 44 percent of California's high school graduates attend college within a year.

Some students don't feel college is an option for them so they don't plan for it, said Abdi Soltani, executive director of Campaign for College Opportunity.

"The problem is, children in the lowest-income families are not aware of the opportunities available, often until it's too late," Soltani said.

A bill - S.B. 890, written by state Sen. Jack Scott, D-Pasadena - would let students know as early as sixth grade what they'll need to do to be eligible for college, then it will hold a seat for them if they want it.

Set for a vote this year in the Assembly Appropriations Committee, the bill renews the promise made in the state's 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education - every qualified student will have the opportunity to attend a community college or university.

S.B. 890 would allow school districts to have sixth-graders and parents sign a "Save me a spot in college" pledge, which guarantees students have at least a spot in community college, as long as they agree to study hard and aim for college.

The bill would serve as a "fast track to FAFSA," which is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form that high school and college students fill out yearly for student financial aid.

Through S.B. 890, students would be informed early what going to college entails and what financial aid is available.

"Instead of informing them in the tail end of high school, we're making that commitment at the front end of middle school," Soltani said.

This commitment needs to be made early, said San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Herbert Fischer.

"I believe the Early Commitment to College legislation will help in boosting college-going rates for students in San Bernardino County, particularly among populations that have not traditionally sent their students to college," Fischer said. "Our county faces the challenge of having low high-school-graduation rates, as well as low college-going and college-graduation rates."

"It's imperative for our region, if we want to be competitive in the global economy, that we find ways to increase those rates or face the economic consequences of having a future unskilled work force," he said.

Donald Averill, chancellor of the San Bernardino Community College District, said it concerns him that not enough males are going into higher education.