School Zone
A note from our Superintendent: Jacksonville Commitment
Recently, School Board Chairwoman Betty Burney and I joined education and community leaders from throughout Northeast Florida to announce The Jacksonville Commitment, a scholarship program that makes earning a college education possible for Duval County students from low-income families.
Beginning in the fall of 2008, The Jacksonville Commitment will provide the financial support necessary for public high school students with limited family income to obtain a college education at one of four area colleges: The University of North Florida (UNF), Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ), Edward Waters College (EWC) or Jacksonville University (JU).
To help students meet the requirements, Jacksonville Commitment counselors will be hired to work in the public high schools. These counselors will encourage students to take prep courses for the college entrance exam and help them apply to college. FCCJ, JU, UNF and EWC are also helping to fund the program through existing scholarships and will be building their endowments for perpetual funding for the program.
UNF, JU and EWC are guaranteeing the entire cost of a four-year degree, including tuition, books, and room and board, while FCCJ is guaranteeing the cost of a two-year degree with the student then transferring to one of the other three colleges to complete a bachelor’s degree.
Approximately 9,000 students currently in grades nine through 12 in Duval County public high schools could financially qualify for the program. Those students are ones who currently qualify for the federal free and reduced lunch program at area schools.
Students determined to be financially eligible for The Jacksonville Commitment still must meet the admission's standards of the institution they wish to attend. These students, who will be known as Commitment Scholars, will have to earn their degrees.
The city of Jacksonville is providing the initial funding for the scholarship program and Mayor John Peyton was in attendance to pledge $1 million for the next fiscal year.
The four local colleges are raising private support to compliment the city's funding as the program grows.
All students, regardless of their economic status, should be propelled forward in academic achievement. The Jacksonville Commitment will afford students the opportunity to reach their goals with higher education, and I am proud to be a part of such a great collaboration.
For more information about this new scholarship program, visit
www.jacksonvillecommitment.org.
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Ed
Pratt-Dannals
Superintendent |
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