Among the topics to be discussed by the two governing boards is progress to date on the San Diego Promise free-tuition program.
SDCCD and San Diego Unified boards to hold joint meeting
March 5, 2021 |
Eliminating equity gaps and strengthening career and educational pathways while navigating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will be the focus of discussion when the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) and San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) governing boards hold their annual joint session at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16, 2021.
Accomplishments and highlights during the pandemic will be among the topics discussed, but the focus will be on looking forward, while reviewing past accomplishments. Future goals include strengthening alignments between the two education systems and expanding early college credit opportunities for high school students, such as dual enrollment. Some 5,142 students participated in dual enrollment programs last year. More than 76%, take part in the College and Career Access Pathways program that provides free college courses on high school campuses. Nonetheless, 45% of SDUSD students are unaware of the option, according to SDUSD data, making outreach an important goal.
Other issues on the agenda:
- The tuition-free San Diego Promise, which has served more than 6,600 students to-date – including some 3,600 in the current academic year – since it was launched as a pilot program five years ago. The San Diego Promise has resulted in countless students who otherwise would not have been able to afford college to earn an associate degree at the SDCCD and transfer to some of the top universities in California, including UC San Diego, UCLA, and UC Berkeley.
- The Preparing Accomplished Transfers to the Humanities (PATH) program, a joint San Diego Community College District-UC San Diego initiative funded by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation that is boosting the numbers of diverse transfer students in the humanities through a focus on mentoring and career preparation.
- The Teacher Pathway Inclusion Program, which creates a coordinated approach for high school students to earn a bachelor of arts degree and teaching credential, with an emphasis on filling a growing need in science, math, and special education. The initiative involves the SDUSD, San Diego Mesa College, and National University. SDUSD staff is tasked with identifying potential future educators from the ranks of middle and high school students, providing them with the counseling and support needed to reach their goals.
The March 16 meeting, which will be open to the public via the SDCCD’s YouTube channel, is the 10th joint session of the two governing boards since 2011.