CJUSD CSUSB Strike Agreement Guaranteeing Admission for Qualifying Students

By: Katie Orloff

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CJUSD

Photo Description:

Colton Joint Unified School District board members stand with California State University, San Bernardino President Tomás Morales, after the adoption of an agreement which will aid CJUSD students in their higher education pursuits. From left: Superintendent Jerry Almendarez, Board Vice President Pilar Tabera, Board Member Dan Flores, Board President Frank Ibarra, CSUSB President Tomás Morales, CJUSD board members Patt Haro, Roger Kowalski, Joanne Thoring-Ojeda and Randall Ceniceros.

A unique partnership will guarantee admission to Cal State San Bernardino for Colton Joint Unified School District students who meet criteria outlined in an agreement adopted last week. CSUSB President Tomás Morales visited the district’s Board of Education meeting on Jan. 23, for a special signing ceremony for the agreement. Calling it a historic agreement, he talked about support the university will offer for district students, including free access to college entrance practice exams, tutoring programs by Cal State students and campus tours starting in elementary school. “This agreement is very important both for Cal State San Bernardino and also for the Colton Joint Unified School District in that it provides students from Colton District high schools with guaranteed admission to CSUSB if they meet specific criteria,” said Morales. “This partnership will help build new opportunities for a college education for students from the Colton District and it will further enhance the college-going and college-graduating rates among citizens in Colton, Bloomington and Grand Terrace.” The university has long shared an important connection with the district. CJUSD sends many of its students to Cal State San Bernardino and many of its teachers received their credentials there. Strengthening these connections is a major focus for the district this year. Through its new Community Cabinet group and Purposeful Community initiative, the CJUSD is building partnerships with local government, business, community groups and higher education with the goal of providing more opportunities for students. Other examples are a student boot camp hosted in November by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers at its San Bernardino training center, and an adopt-a-school program between Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and elementary schools. “This agreement with Cal State San Bernardino is an exciting partnership that will smooth the way for our students to follow their dreams of attending university,” Superintendent Almendarez said. “This is an important connection that will allow us to work more closely with CSUSB to prepare our students for bright futures.”