Yesterday, students, parents, faculty and staff, gathered at the Saville Theater to celebrate the final symposium of the first annual San Diego Early College Summer Enrichment Program Symposium.  The event brought together 46 ninth graders to celebrate and present the final projects as a result of 5 weeks of college level work at San Diego City College.  The theme of the Summer was, “Building a Better Community,” and students presented a range of community based projects that they hope to accomplish.  All 46 students completed the program earning 3 college  units. 

Talking with students and parents, it was clear that this was an emotional event for some, groundbreaking for others, and the start of a new world of possibilities, not just for the students, but for the building of a “better community” as educators and institutions dedicated to ALL San Diego students. Watch a story run by NBC news to listen to a few of the studetns describe their experience in the program.

The entire Summer Enrichment Program has been filmed by Professor Bob Sly and the San Diego City College RTV Department. Check back for the final video to be released.  

Foundation President, Dr. Paul Lanning, spoke to an enthusiastic crowd of ECHS graduates on Friday, June 4, 2010 at Nuview Bridge ECHS. Dr. Lanning presented each student with a commemorative medallion and encouraged them to continue their education and ensure this is not their last graduation ceremony. Watch Dr. Lanning's speech here.

Dr. Lanning also delivered a keynote address to International Studies Learning Center's second graduating class on June 17, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. in Southgate, CA.  Watch Dr. Lanning's speech here.  At the ceremony, Dr. Lanning was recognized by Principal Dr. Guillermina Jauregui as an "Honorary Dragon."  Watch the presentation here.

To learn more about the Foundation's ECHS Initiative schools, click on the "Our Schools" link at the top right column of this page.

Ghidotti Early College High School, which partners with Sierra College, celebrates its first graduating class this June 10, 2010.  These ECHS students have already participated in Sierra College's graduation to recognize their completion of Associates Degrees.  Read about these pioneering students here.  To learn more about Ghidotti ECHS visit the school's homepage.

California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell spoke recently at Newport-Mesa Early College High School's first graduation ceremony.  Read more about his speech here. This ECHS is a partnership with Coastline Community College's Newport-Mesa campus where students earn college credits while still in high school.  Visit the school's website for more information!

Early-College High Schools Beat the Odds
By Marlene B. Seltzer

When Diego Camposeco, a high school student in the rural lowlands of eastern North Carolina, checked his e-mail this spring, a dream came true. He found out he will be the first in his family to attend college. Not only that, he will enter the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with one of its four-year “full ride” scholarships.

How did this son of immigrants beat the odds?   Read more at EdWeek (login required).

The Foundation for California Community Colleges' national partner, Jobs for the Future (JFF), announce national Early College High School Week!  Early college high schools and their partners around the country will bring together students, administrators, parents, community leaders, and legislators to celebrate Early College High School Week 2010, May 3-9.    

Early college high schools help more students graduate from high school prepared for college and career success,” said Marlene B. Seltzer, CEO and president of Jobs for the Future, which leads the Early College High School Initiative. “Early colleges show that all students are capable of achieving success, regardless of their family income or their skill levels upon starting high school.”   

There are 210 schools nationwide in the Early College High School Initiative, twice the number of schools in any other innovative school network in the United States. The initiative is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, among others. These schools serve more than 46,000 students in 24 states. Their students are predominately young people of color. They are from low-income families, and few of their parents have attended college. Despite those facts, 92 percent of these students graduate high school—compared to the national rate of 69 percent, according to a 2009 Education Week report. Of those, 37 percent graduate with at least a full year of free college credit—22 percent even graduate high school with a diploma and an Associate’s degree.

The Early College High School Initiative has garnered the attention of policy makers and educational leaders nationwide. Education Secretary Arne Duncan honored the Early College High School Initiative praising the national effort for its success in preparing underrepresented students for college and career success.  View Secretary Duncan's remarks on youtube.

In his remarks at the America's Promise Alliance Education Event on March 1, 2010, President Obama praised the early college model stating, "High schools shouldn't just make sure students graduate—they should make sure students graduate ready for college, ready for a career, and ready for life. And that's why we'll foster early college high schools that allow students to earn a high school diploma and an Associate's degree or college credit at the same time."

Read President Obama's complete speech from the White House's Office of the Press Secretary.

In his speech discussing federal investments to lower high school dropout rates, President Obama referenced the Early College High School (ECHS) model as a strategy that supports student learning and progression towards degree completion. 

The national Early College High School (ECHS) Initiative was featured today in the New York Times as a successful means of keeping at-risk students in school "by eliminating the divide between high school and college."  A North Carolina ECHS was profiled as one of the 200 ECHSs funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  Similarly, the Foundation for California Community Colleges serves as an intermediary for 23 Gates funded ECHSs throughout California.  Read the full NY Times story here.