Central Coast News KION/KCBACSUMB Spreads Good Word of Education At Black Churches

SEASIDE - A statewide education alert made its way to black churches on the central coast.

The message from the California State University: It's never too early for students and families to plan for college.

School officials from the CSU went from church to church preaching the good word of education.

At Greater Victory Temple in Seaside, President Dianne Harrison of the CSU says her mission is to boost the enrollment of black students.

Last fall, only five percent of black students enrolled.

The highest was among whites at 45 percent.

"Part of being prepared for college is making sure students are academically ready to enter college," said Martha Henry of Greater Victory Temple.

That means talking to your students as early as elementary school about college prep courses and getting their reading and writing up to speed so that they're ready for college when the time comes.

Elsa Valdez brought her three children, ages seven to ten, to the Super Sunday event for that very reason.

"It's good to know about college because when I wanted to apply for college before I never knew about any programs or anybody that could help me and that was a struggle for me," she said. "Now when I hear anything about college I like to take my kids to those events so they can have a better future."

"Part of our mission is to make sure every child is ready for college and that starts from the time they're in kindergarten, not in eleventh grade," said Laurie Bloom-Sweeney, principal of Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary in Seaside.

Tutor volunteers up and down the central coast were awarded for dedicating their time to working one on one with students.

"That's why we have this tutoring program designed to have a game plan for students so that they're academically ready to have many options," Henry said.

This is the seventh year for Super Sunday.

More than 100 churches throughout the state were visited.