2016年9月15日 星期四

national College Promise program 洛杉磯的社區學院承諾:免學費一年


洛杉磯的學院承諾:免學費一年
2016.09.1​​5 15:40國符


美國副總統夫人吉爾·拜登博士和洛杉磯市長賈西提星期三宣布一個社區學院補助項目,讓更多的高中畢業生得以接受高等教育。


洛杉磯的聯合學區是加州最大的公立高中系統,在全美國規模僅次於紐約市。市長賈西提和副總統拜登的妻子吉爾·拜登博士和許多教育官員,星期三在洛杉磯聯合學區歡欣鼓舞的學生面前,宣布了“洛杉磯的學院承諾”項目,從明年秋天開始實施,學區的高中畢業生將可以享受在洛杉磯九個社區學院免學費一年的待遇。


擴大高等教​​育機會


賈西提表示,洛杉磯每一個學生都應該有機會接受高等教育,這個項目為每一個取得高中畢業證書的洛杉磯學生打開一扇門,讓他們追求完成夢想所需的技術和教育。


“洛杉磯的學院承諾”項目受到全國性的項目“美國的學院承諾”的鼓舞,後者由美國總統奧巴馬領軍,拜登博士擔任主席,推動讓學生免費上兩年美國的社區學院計劃。從去年宣布以來,美國全國已經有36個項目啟動,其中23個位於加州,洛杉磯的項目將是全美國最大的一個。


身為教育學者的拜登博士表示,洛杉磯的項目保證學生能在社區大學免學費上學一年,讓學生得以集中精神學習,這是朝正確的方向邁進的一步。


除了免學費一年外,這個項目還為高中應屆畢業生提供補習、輔導以及理財指導。


賈西提通過市長基金籌募了大約175萬美元,至少可以支付項目第一年所需的半數經費。


嘉惠低收入家庭


一個在場的高中學生表示,他希望將來進修電腦,有一天能到谷歌工作。但他不希望一輩子都背負債務,能進入學院免費就讀一年,讓他非常興奮。


洛杉磯社區學院學區發言人表示,“洛杉磯的學院承諾”項目影響最大的將是來自低收入家庭、無法擔負學院學費的學生。


Mayor Eric Garcetti promises free community-college tuition as Jill Biden helps launch L.A. initiative
Los Angeles Times‎ - 5 hours ago
Eric Garcetti says by next year, eligible high school students will get a free year's tuition at ...

Garcetti’s announcement, though short on specifics, resembles President Obama’s proposal in his 2015 State of the Union address to offer two free years of community college to all U.S. students. It represents the mayor’s most direct attempt yet to shape public education in the city, while allowing him to maintain a safe distance from L.A. Unified, a system of 642,000 students over which he has no authority. Garcetti has been criticized for not being as involved in public education as his predecessor.
In its first year, the program is expected to cost $3 million. According to the mayor’s office, Garcetti has raised $1.75 million, with the remainder to come from the L.A. Community College District.
 Exactly how many of L.A.’s public school students could benefit from the mayor’s proposal remains unclear.
In 2015, the public school system graduated about 30,000 students. Although district officials were not able to provide the most recent number of graduates for the class of 2016, they have boasted a graduation rate of 75%, a record in the city’s modern history.
L.A. Unified Supt. Michelle King said that of the class of 2015, 37% went on to attend local community colleges.
“We will expand that percentage,” King said at the mayor’s rally. “No longer will our students have to worry about the financial burdens of what to do about college; they can focus on their education. They will have a seat in a community college in L.A.”
Students at L.A. charter schools also will be able to participate in the program, district officials said.


Starting next year, all graduates of Los Angeles Unified high schools will be eligible for a free year of tuition at a local community college.

The Los Angeles College Promise program was announced on Wednesday by Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden and honorary chair of the national College Promise Campaign.

"This is the promise that you can define your own future without having to worry about being burdened by decades of debt," said Biden, herself a community college instructor. "That you can focus on school, rather than having to juggle multiple jobs."

"And ultimately we use the word promise because that's what we see in all of you. The promise of a brighter future for our communities, our families and our country."

Los Angeles is becoming the 23rd city in California to join the national College Promise program.

Every student who graduates from LAUSD next year - an estimated 30,000 graduating seniors - will be able to attend one year free at one of LA's nine community colleges.


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