The CSU Center to Close the Opportunity Gap (CCOG) celebrated its grand opening with a virtual launch event on November 10. Featured speakers included Patrick O'Donnell, California state assemblymember; Dr. Loren J. Blanchard, CSU executive vice chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs; and Dr. Joe Johnson, executive director of the National Center for Urban School Transformation at San Diego State University.
Established at Cal State Long Beach in partnership with Cal State Fullerton, San Diego State University and San José State University, CCOG will focus on eliminating equity gaps among all levels of education, from kindergarten to college. CCOG will serve as a central location to house the best practices, research, tools and strategies that education partners across the state can use to close the achievement gap among California's students.
CSULB was chosen to host CCOG following a competitive selection process in spring 2020. Funding for the Center was included in the 2019-20 state budget, with a one-time allocation of $3 million.
“We don't need more studies identifying the problem [of equity gaps in education], but we do need information to fix the problem," says Assemblymember O'Donnell. “Until now, there has not been a central location where a teacher, a school district, or a teacher education program can easily retrieve or share information. The Center will be the one place where we can house resources associated with closing the achievement gap – a one-stop shop."
In collaboration with K-12 partners, CCOG aims to close the opportunity and achievement gaps by:
- Strengthening professional preparation to ensure teachers, education leaders and staff enter schools prepared to close gaps;
- Conducting original research; and
- Developing and disseminating resources to implement evidence-based best practices at local education agencies.
Tuesday's virtual unveiling of CCOG included a preview of its website, which hosts online resources, learning opportunities, webinars, instructional guides and teaching tools for teachers, education specialists and school administrators.
CCOG is in direct support of Graduation Initiative 2025, the CSU's flagship effort to increase graduation rates, eliminate equity gaps in degree completion and meet California's workforce needs.
“The CSU's plan to increase graduation rates and eliminate equity gaps is both ambitious and complex, and it relies on the support, collaboration and talents of our K-12 educators," says Dr. Blanchard.
“I trust that over time, by identifying and sharing proven strategies to close opportunity gaps among educators statewide, the Center will have a transformational impact not only in our schools throughout California, but also for the CSU and for generations of students and their families."
To learn more about CCOG, visit ccog.calstate.edu/.