Resolution introduce to evoke college readiness

Several Summer Youth Leadership Academy (SYLA) students from the East Side Union High School District (ESUHSD) held a community townhall at Overfelt high school on Tuesday, August 10, to obtain recommendations on how to ensure students are prepared for meaningful careers and a life after high school.
“I want to be a successful woman of color, said Patricia Navarro. “I want to go to college and have a career.”
Californians for Justice (CFJ) have worked with the East Side Education Alliance (ESEA), a San Jose coalition of community organizations, elected officials, unions, and education advocates, to develop a regional campaign: “A-G Graduate with Me!” The campaign seeks to ensure that the ESUHSD implements A-G coursework as part of the graduation requirements, strengthen support programs and career tech education.
The A-G requirements are college preparatory courses that California high school students need to complete upon graduation in order to qualify for four-year colleges like CSUs and UCs. CFJ, a statewide grassroots organization works for racial justice by building the power of communities and organizes the youth with programs like SYLA. Those students are then made aware of things like A-G requirements, by which more students are notified.
“I think it's a right to go to college and there’s so many students that think just by passing their classes they can go to college,” said Navarro, a junior at Independence High School. “Our community is made up of a lot of immigrant parents so they don't know of the things.”
Nearly 2/3rds of students in the ESUHSD graduate without the necessary classes to attend a 4-year university. While only 20% of Latino students graduate with their required classes.
“What we really want to do is to change the requirements to graduate high school into the same requirements needed to get into college because everyone will be set," said Benjamin Long, junior at Independence High School and SYLA graduate.
Long and Navarro didn’t know about the college requirements until their sophomore year. They both hope to rearrange their schedules to better prepare for college.
Students, allies and community members have rallied at the State Building to demand college and career readiness for students in the ESUHSD and a stop to devastating budget cuts. In addition to the resolution being presented, the campaign leaders plan to identify the resources, support services and systems necessary to make it a success.
"I'm in agreement that we need to get this initiative before the board,” said Interim Superintendent Dan Moser, ESUHSD. 
Moser said that everyone should be ready for college after high school and made a point about the importance of higher education in the future. He has support from CFJ and the different allies.
"I feel cheated that nobody told me about it and that I took that useless class my freshman year," said Long. “We have to tell everyone about this and change the requirements.”
Locally, CFJ organize in Independence, Silver Creek, James Lick and Overfelt High School.
For more information about CFJ and the campaign, visit: www.caljustice.org