Keeping the Promise of College Opportunity in California

College Board Conference Saturday

November 11, 2006

• 1960 Master Plan – California made a promise to provide a place in community college and university for all students who seek it

• Growing population and projected improvement in college-going mean that by 2014 640,000 additional California students are likely to seek college above our current capacity (source: Department of Finance)

• By 2020, serious shortage of college-educated workers poses challenge to state economy (source: PPIC)

• Campaign is a bi-partisan, broad-based effort to ensure access to college and to meet the workforce needs of California economy

Today we will:• Revisit the Promise of the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education and

learn why this promise of college opportunity is at risk

• Hear of current efforts and collaborations taking place to ensure that California can set itself on a better path through review of the draft College Opportunity Plan

• Learn what you or your organization can do to support and expand college opportunity in California

Speakers:• Dede Alpert, retired State Senator

• Dr. Constance M. Carroll, Chancellor, San Diego Community College District.

• David Valladolid, President & CEO, Parent Institute for Quality Education

• Michele Siqueiros, Associate Director, Campaign for College Opportunity

A promise that every student wishing to pursue a college education would have that opportunity.

– It transformed a collection of uncoordinated and competing colleges and universities into a coherent system; achieved by assigning each public segment (UC, CSU and Community Colleges) its own distinctive mission and pool of students.

– Acknowledged the vital role of the independent institutions, primarily through use of the Cal Grant, designed to ensure that needy and high-performing students had the ability to choose a California institution of their preference, whether it be public or independent, establishing a principle of universal access and choice.

– Established a governance structure for the segments, reaffirming the role of the Board of Regents of UC and establishing a Board of Trustees to oversee CSU and, in 1967, a Board of Governors for the Community Colleges.

– Established a statutory coordinating body, the Coordinating Council for Higher Education, which in 1973 was replaced by the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC).

Master Plan for Higher Education

This system that combines exceptional quality with broad access for students has made California the envy of, and exemplar for, not only other states but also nations around the world.

The system has provided the business community with a high quality workforce that has benefited the State and its businesses.

Master Plan for Higher Education

• Right now and for the next decade, California has an age distribution that favors education investment. This abundance of young people represents a precious opportunity.

• 2005 to 2010, additional 426,000 18-24 year olds

• 2010 to 2015, 100,000 additional 18-24 year olds on topof that

• Every new dollar California invest will produce a net return of three dollars (Return on Investment)

• California employers and industries are demanding greater levels of education (Keeping California’s Edge)

• 3.2 million new college graduates needing in the workforce between 2002 and 2022 (Keeping California’s Edge)

California Needs College Grads

• Prepare for coming decade of expanded enrollment• Collaboration between the segments of higher

education and K-12• Focus on increasing college participation and

improving college preparation and success• Parent and family engagement efforts • Statewide policy efforts to support college

opportunity

Keeping the Promise

• Legislation and Policy Work to improve college access & success Early notification and commitment Governor’s Biennial Summit on Higher Education Improve college affordability Enrollment funding

• Coalition Building Civic, Business, Labor and community leaders

• Youth and Family Engagement Road 2 College: Information & Action for California Families Save Me a Spot in College (middle school & high school scholarship

contest) • Public Awareness & Research

Media outreach and partnerships Research studies focused on college opportunity, needs and challenges

in California

What is the Campaign doing?

• Endorse the Campaign as individual or organization

• Support legislation focused on providing greater college access

• Nominate Practices with Promise for those already working hard to provide better college opportunities

• Participate in regional and statewide coalition outreach efforts

• Involve middle school and high school students in the Save Me A Spot in College Youth Scholarship Contest

• Join us in the “Road 2 College: Information & Action for California Families” events across California

• Invest in the Campaign, donations doubled by the Hewlett Foundation Matching Grant