Maria Casillas, Families in Schools, Elise Buik, and Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Community Coalition. |
“Education is not a cost, it’s an investment,” said State Senator and Chair of the Education Committee Jack Scott at a briefing today on SB 890, an Early College Commitment bill which aims to increase college opportunity for young people in California and prepare them for the jobs of the future.
United Way, California State PTA, Families in Schools, and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund are among those supporting the bill, which is being co-authored by the Campaign for College Opportunity.
Self-confessed education ‘nut’, Senator Scott pointed out that college was ‘like a foreign nation’ to many young people and that the “college seed” needed to be planted much earlier. That meant information not just on college, but the financial aid available to help students get there.
Panelists Elise Buik, Georgia Mercer and Maria Casillas. |
Associate Director of the Campaign for College Opportunity Michele Siqueiros pointed out that the bill was a renewal of the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education which established the principle that any student who was interested could pursue a college education.
Under Senate Bill 890, that commitment will be made available for the first time to students and families in middle school through the Save Me a Spot in College Pledge campaign.
By signing the pledge, low-income students commit to preparing themselves academically, in return for a State guarantee of a place in community college or university, as well as need-based financial aid to help them cover the costs of their education.
State Senator Jack Scott with United Way CEO Elise Buik. |
Senator Scott pointed out that lack of investment in college education would impact society as a whole. By 2020, workforce demand for college graduates is projected to be 39 percent - 6 percent less than California is expected to provide. State-wide, that translates into thousands of young people.
“If we don’t lift the boat up on this, we are all going to sink,” said Scott.
United Way CEO Elise Buik agreed. “The business community is already panicked that they can’t hire skilled employees. We have to start making investments and choices now. Our future quality of life in this region is tied to this investment,” added Buik.
For more information on SB 890 and how you can be involved, please visit http://www.collegecampaign.org.