It will be easier than ever before for high school students in the Culver City Unified School District to earn college credits. And do so on their own campus, thanks to a new agreement with West Los Angeles College to offer college and career access pathways through dual credit courses in computer science, technical production for theater, and architecture.
The AB 288 Agreement, signed at the CCUSD Board of Education meeting on Jan. 23, allows students to take classes provided by WLAC at Culver City High School and Culver City Park High School, to earn college credit. These classes will fulfill both diploma and college degree requirements and will be offered tuition-free.
“We are very excited about this new AB288 partnership that allows our students to take dual enrollment classes and earn high school and college credit simultaneously,” said Superintendent Leslie Lockhart. “This is yet another way that we can offer students a chance to follow their career goals and get a head start right on our high school campuses.”
“Reaching them where they are is critical to helping our young people connect to college and succeed in higher education and the workplace. This partnership reduces barriers to entry by allowing high school students to become comfortable with college processes and rigor from the familiar place their of high schools and it’s tuition free – that’s a win, win for all,” said LACCD Board President Sydney Kamlager-Dove.
“This demonstrates how both institutions working together can capitalize on their strengths to increase access to college and meet the needs of students in the communities we serve. I look forward to more of these signings across our nine colleges,” added LACCD Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez.
“West has offered concurrent enrollment courses at Culver City High for years,” said Aracely Aguiar, WLAC Vice President of Academic Affairs. “Working with Culver City Unified, we are creating pathways in computer science, technical production for theater, and architecture that lead to employment.”
The agreement the board endorsed yesterday has it origins in AB 288, a law approved in 2015, that allows community colleges to offer classes on high school campuses, open only to high school students. Previously, any community college class had to be open to all students at the college, regardless of location — a problem for the many high schools that maintain closed campuses.
“In one year, West Los Angeles College will celebrate its 50th year. If you know anything about the College’s history, you know that Culver City’s residents and school board were instrumental in the establishment of this campus that serves Culver City, West Los Angeles and other surrounding communities,” said Dr. James M. Limbaugh, WLAC President. “So we are particularly pleased and excited to be entering into this agreement that expands our partnership with the outstanding Culver City schools.”
AB 288 (Dual Enrollment) College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) “shall be for the purpose of offering or expanding dual enrollment opportunities for students who may not already be college bound or who are underrepresented in higher education, with the goal of developing seamless pathways from high school to community college for career technical education or preparation for transfer, improving high school graduation rates, or helping high school pupils achieve college and career readiness,” according to the Chancellor’s Office.
