The State Center Community College District (SCCCD) has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office to support the launch of the Central Valley Promise (CVP) program.

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The program responds to low college going rates in Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare counties by partnering with regional K-16 educators on shared educational initiatives, instructional alignment, student preparation, and technology. CVP also removes a huge barrier by making the first semester of community college free to eligible students.

The regional scale of the CVP project is unique as one of the only programs of its type to include multiple community college districts (SCCCD and West Hills), and multiple unified school districts (Fresno, Kings Canyon, Sanger, Firebaugh-Las Deltas, and Mendota), as well as a university partner, California State University Fresno. CVP is also supported by the Fresno County Office of Education and the Central Valley Community Foundation.

“This grant award will act as a springboard for change in the Central Valley,” SCCCD Chancellor, Dr. Paul Parnell, said in a statement. “The Promise demonstrates our commitment to education for all community members, and provides evidence of the strong partnerships between regional colleges, schools, and the business community. The project will foster college success, and help eradicate unemployment within the region we serve.”