Leaders of Baton Rouge’s four largest education institutions are launching a new initiative to create more college and career pathways for students in the city and surrounding communities, LSU announced this morning.
The “Capital Area Promise” will connect several existing programs at LSU, Southern University, Baton Rouge Community College and East Baton Rouge Parish Schools.
The Capital Area Promise will focus on five elements: promoting early childhood education, college tours for all middle school students, summer internships for youth, a pledge by students and parents, and guaranteed admission to a post-secondary or technical education.
To accomplish these goals, the institutions have agreed to 10 strategies. Among these strategies is growing the number of high school students with dual enrollment credits and the number of available postsecondary degrees and technical certificates. The institution will also work to reduce barriers for college affordability and expand teacher preparation programs.
The Promise is modeled from the Long Beach College Promise, launched by LSU President F. King Alexander in 2008, while he was president at California State University Long Beach.
The institutions will formally unveil the initiative at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6, at the City Hall Plaza in downtown Baton Rouge.
