A New High School Concept in the Fairfield Suisun Unified School District

Fairfield, CA, November 21, 2013: At last night’s Governing Board meeting, Solano Community College (SCC) and Fairfield Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD) memorandum of understanding (MOU) was approved for the two Districts to move forward with their Early College High School (ECHS) partnership. ECHS is a program in which high school students from FSUSD will have curricula that allows them to complete high school and earn college credit simultaneously.

ECHS prepares high school students for successful educational futures through a full integration of high school, college, and careers.  The program goal is to help students to improve their academic performances, develop self confidence, and increase high school and college/university completion rates.  Both Districts pledge their commitment to establish the operation of an ECHS starting in the fall of 2014 at SCC’s Fairfield campus.

Currently, SCC and Vacaville Unified School District (VUSD) are in partnership for the same program at the College’s Vacaville Center.  There are approximately 50 high school students enrolled that started the program in August of this year.  Solano is not the first college in the area to embark on an Early College High School program, however.  Contra Costa College in San Pablo, CA, has had a long, successful run with their Early College High School program; it was founded in 1989 and is presently thriving with nearly 300 students enrolled.  This program has earned the “Best High School in America” award a few times, in addition to other prestigious awards.

Solano and FSUSD’s ECHS program will be designed to prepare students for college success by providing them rigorous coursework and the opportunity to enroll in college classes beginning in the ninth grade.  Qualifying students will take high school and degree-applicable college courses at SCC.  In addition, some high school courses may be offered at the high school campus.

Dr. Jowel Laguerre, SCC Superintendent-President commented, “This is the culmination of a lot of work between the School District and the College.  The program affords an opportunity for students and parents to access college curriculum at an early age, and may allow students to complete an Associate’s degree by 18 years of age and a Bachelor’s degree by 20. I want to thank the voters of Winters and Solano counties for making this ECHS program possible through the passage of Measure Q!”

For additional information regarding ECHS, please contact the Office of the Superintendent-President at 707.864.7112.