Piece Description

For generations of Californians, a college education was the ticket to the American Dream. In the 1960's about half of California's high school graduates went to college, a rate that far outpaced the national average. Now, however, only Mississippi has a lower rate of sending high school seniors directly onto four-year college. Spiraling tuition and poor preparation from high school hold many back from that goal. But those factors don't push higher education completely out of reach. That's because every year, two-and-a half million Californians turn to community colleges as the most accessible step up the education ladder. California's community colleges accept all high school graduates or anyone over the age of 18. And the system's fees are the lowest in the nation. But there's growing concern that while community colleges bring their students to the door of opportunity, the system is not moving them across the threshold to futher education and financial security.