East LA Kindergarten Students Receive College Admission Certificates

EAST LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Kindergarten students received college admission certificates Tuesday through a program that aims to promote successful educational outcomes.

The certificates were presented in the Brooklyn Elementary School library at 8:00 a.m. -- located at 4620 Cesar Chavez Avenue -- by Los Angeles Unified School Board Member Mónica García, East Los Angeles College President Marvin Martinez, and LAUSD Instructional Area Superintendent Roberto Martinez, school officials explained.

"GO East Los Angeles is a great initiative where we are bringing resources to our families," said García. "We're increasing expectations for success throughout all of unincorporated East Los Angeles."

The special event was hosted by the GO East Los Angeles: A Pathway to College and Career Success initiative; a program that was designed to guarantee admission to East Los Angeles College and California State University, Los Angeles for all students who graduate from Garfield High School, and meet enrollment requirements.

KCAL9's Amber Lee reported a total of 1,500 kindergarteners that attend a total of 14 elementary schools will be offered the certificates for the first time.

The students will go on field trips to college campuses, and will take college preparatory classes in middle school to prepare for their college careers.

GO East Los Angeles is a partnership between the LAUSD, East Los Angeles College, and California State University, Los Angeles, which aims to promote a college-going culture for all students, authorities explained.

"We believe that this program will give students the opportunity to take the classes as soon as possible and be prepared," said Martinez. "By the time they come to us, it will take them two to three years to graduate instead of five years."

School officials added the certificates were presented to the young students as a reminder that it is never too early to start thinking about attending college, and the role education plays in a successful future.

For more information on the GO East Los Angeles program, click here.