Now in its 10th year, the education initiative is lauded for serving ‘as a model for communities in California and across the nation’
Leaders from the Long Beach Unified School District, Long Beach City College, Long Beach State University and the city of Long Beach unveiled the 10-year anniversary report today showing The Long Beach College Promise initiative has produced significant gains in student achievement over the past decade.
Long Beach State University, the community college and the school district committed to The Promise in 2008, extending the promise of a college education to every student in the Long Beach Unified School District. The city of Long Beach and its Mayor’s Office joined the initiative in 2014. Since its inception, The Promise has served as a model for communities in California and across the nation to develop partnerships centered on student success.
“This year marks the 10th anniversary of The Promise, and we are excited to share its accomplishments with the community,” initiative leaders noted in the report shared during a community event attended by students, parents and local dignitaries at the Long Beach Museum of Latin American Art this morning. “A national model for student success, The Promise has helped thousands of youth achieve their dreams of higher education.”
Elements of The Promise include increased access to early childhood education; college tours for fourth and fifth graders; a middle school pledge by students and parents, committing to college readiness; a tuition-free first year at LBCC and guaranteed admission to Long Beach State University for qualifying students.
Among the findings in the new report, “Moving Long Beach Ahead,” were data showing that students now have far greater access to college, and are better prepared for higher education, than they were 10 years ago:
Among the speakers at the event were President Jane Close Conoley of Long Beach State University, Superintendent-President Reagan F. Romali of LBCC, Superintendent Christopher J. Steinhauser of LBUSD and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia. The leaders also presented college scholarships to 24 local eighth graders who have shown academic improvement.
The Promise includes efforts to align academic standards, teaching methods and student assessment across institutions to improve student achievement and teacher quality. The initiative has garnered recognition and attention by the White House, Gov. Jerry Brown and the California State Senate, and it has been modeled by many other communities in California, including Fresno, the Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco.
View the 10-year report on the College Promise at www.longbeachcollegepromise.org.
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