Students Donovan Starks (left) and Jamel White speak to a Morehouse College representative at L.A. Valley College.
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In September 2023, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 1400, which redefined the College Access Tax Credit to provide up to a $5,000 one-time award for California community college students to transfer to HBCUs. It's one part of a broader strategy to improve transfer rates for Black students in California.
Will students use it? “I want to get out of the state. I've been a California native all my life, so really to explore and to also network with other people — especially like my people, Black people," said West L.A. College student Jamel White.
Round-trip ticket: There are no federally designated HBCUs in California. (Charles R. Drew University has a history of serving Black students, but does not have a federal designation). Tied to the grant funding is the expectation that students return to the state.
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California Makes Strides Toward Improving HBCU Transfer Pathway For Community College Students
Jamel White stopped at booth after booth at the Historically Black Colleges and Universities caravan, part of the Welcome B(l)ack event at Los Angeles Valley College. Studying criminal justice at West L.A., White said he’s primarily interested in going to an HBCU in the fall of 2024.
“I want to get out of the state. I've been a California native all my life, so really to explore and to also network with other people — especially like my people, Black people,” White said. He added that at an HBCU he’ll “feel more at home.”
When asked what he means by “home,” White said, “seeing more people that look like me walk around campus. I don't feel like an outsider. I walk into a class, it's people that look like me, not just I'm the only Black student, or it's only two Black students in this class of 30. So you feel more comfortable.”
He has fortunate timing. In September 2023, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 1400, which redefined the College Access Tax Credit to provide up to a $5,000 one-time award for California community college students to transfer to HBCUs.
A one-time award
An HBCU is a college or university established prior to 1964, whose main mission was and is to educate Black Americans, though they serve students of any race.
There are no federally designated HBCUs in California. (Charles R. Drew University has a history of serving Black students, but does not have a federal designation).
Tied to the funding provided by AB 1400 is the expectation that students return to the state after they graduate.
Providing students with some funding to attend HBCUs makes it easier for students to use an existing transfer agreement between California community colleges and nearly 40 HBCU campuses. Since 2015, upon meeting certain academic requirements, California community college students are guaranteed transfer admission to participating HBCUs.
In the 2021 to 2022 fiscal year, there were just over 50 such transfer students at the nearly 40 HBCU campuses under this agreement.
That number may be higher due to challenges tracking transfers to private schools and HBCUs, according to Arynn Auzout Settle, project director for the California Community College transfer agreement.
Iris Tabb, director of admissions at Harris-Stowe State University in Missouri, attended the HBCU caravan at Los Angeles Valley College. She said the news of AB 1400 was very exciting, “that the state recognizes the opportunity for students to experience an HBCU education and then ultimately bringing that experience back to the state of California, ultimately adding to the rich, diverse, nature of the state as it is already.”
Tuition at Harris-Stowe can cost over $10,000 per year (in-state tuition is about $5,800 annually), and that's not including other fees. Tabb says the grant can make a substantial difference, along with other possible merit scholarships.
The importance of community
Darla Cooper, the executive director of The RP Group, a nonprofit that examined factors influencing transfer success among Black students, said that AB 1400 provides students with another option.
The new benefit could also help deal with an obstacle to Black student success. RP data shows nearly two-thirds of Black students who attend college in California start at a community college, but only 3% successfully transfer to a university in two years.
In their most recent report, The RP Group surveyed 7,000 current and former California Community college students who identified as African American or Black on their transfer experiences. The report found that students who regularly experienced microaggressions on campus were far less likely to pass gateway math on the first try relative to those who experienced microaggressions less frequently or not at all.
“The experience of Black students on campuses is they experience bias, discrimination, racism, and microaggressions quite regularly. Going to an HBCU erases a lot of that, not 100%, and not just for California, but across the nation,” Cooper said.
Nichelle Henderson, vice president of the LACCD board of trustees, spoke to a full auditorium at Los Angeles Valley College’s Welcome B(l)ack event. Henderson said that she went to a predominantly white institution and she did not get the support she needed as a Black student. At the college she attended, she felt like the only one in the room.
“Although I was very prepared to go to college, very prepared, when I got there and that lack of support caused me to doubt myself,” Henderson said. Subsequently, she said it took her several decades to complete her undergraduate degree.
Raising awareness of HBCU pathway
The RP Group also found that students who participate in Umoja were more likely to find a community where they belong and to personally connect with someone at their college who supports their academic success.
Umoja is a community dedicated to enhancing the cultural and educational experiences of Black students and other students. At L.A. Valley College, for example, the Umoja Black Scholars program is a mentorship-based community for students of color.
“HBCUs are Umoja put through the whole college — having relations with other students, faculty, staff. Imagine if in every class it’s like being in Umoja,” Cooper said.
Elliott Coney, counselor and coordinator of Umoja Black Scholars at Los Angeles Valley College.
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Bonnie Ho
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Elliott Coney, counselor and coordinator of Umoja Black Scholars at Los Angeles Valley College, spearheaded the Welcome B(l)ack event in October, which included the HBCU caravan. Coney said the Welcome B(l)ack event originated during the pandemic to connect students to one another.
“As an HBCU alum, I just want to expose students to opportunities that they're not familiar with. HBCUs were a vital part of my life and it's the reason why I'm here and doing this work,” he said. “So I just want to make sure that, you know, students have opportunities to come see African American success, Black success, as well as schools that are going to help them to obtain that.”
Yisak Mulugeta, a West L.A. College student majoring in computer science, attended the event to get to know more people. He hadn’t been thinking much about what he’ll do in a year.
“Now I’m here it just seems like a really good opportunity just to learn about what comes after community college,” Mulugeta said.
Fostering connections
Donovan Starks, a student in computer engineering at West L.A., approached HBCU representatives in the caravan. He talked to as many as he could to see if they were a match — he met their needs and they had what he wanted, a golf program.
Golf is a predominantly white sport, Starks said, and he wants to change that; most people see him and assume he plays football. He said they’re shocked when he tells them he plays golf.
It was also appealing to him that colleges and universities in the HBCU Caravan offered on-site admissions.
“I like the outcome of people that graduate from HBCUs. They have a very good camaraderie with other alumni,” Starks said. He also said this type of connection fostered at HBCUs will help when college gets rough.
“I like the enthusiasm that most HBCUs have,” Starks said. “It's not just come here and get your education. It's come here and make a connection and get your education.”
Mariana Dale
explores and explains the forces that shape how and what kids learn from kindergarten to high school.
Published July 21, 2026 2:50 PM
The Marshall High School Jazz Band opened the 2026 Los Angeles Unified Opening of Schools event.
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Mariana Dale
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Topline:
Los Angeles Unified students showed improvements on the state’s reading, math and science standardized tests for a third consecutive year.
Why now: Superintendent Andrés Chait announced the preliminary results at the annual opening-of-schools address at East L.A.’s Garfield High School— his first as the district’s leader since the board appointed him to the job in June.
“ These are not just numbers on a page,” Chait said to an audience that included about 1,000 principals, administrators and district supporters. “They are the result of your passion, your persistence, your belief in what students can achieve.”
Why it matters: Student achievement, as measured by test scores, plummeted during the pandemic. Los Angeles Unified’s growth in 2025 outpaced the state as test scores exceeded pre-pandemic levels. This year the percentage of students in all grades who met or exceeded the standard are 39.7% for math, 48.3% for English and 32.1% for science.
It’s unclear how this compares to students statewide because those results have yet to be released.
Read on ... for more information from the address. This story will be updated.
Students within the Los Angeles Unified School District showed improvements on state reading, math and science standardized tests for a third consecutive year, district authorities announced Tuesday.
Superintendent Andrés Chait revealed the preliminary results at the annual opening-of-schools address at East L.A.’s Garfield High School— his first as the district’s leader since the board appointed him to the job in June.
“ These are not just numbers on a page,” Chait said to an audience that included about 1,000 principals, administrators and district supporters. “They are the result of your passion, your persistence, your belief in what students can achieve. These are collective accomplishments.
"They reflect the dedication, skill, and commitment of our entire community,” he said.
Jai Gant-Leau, principal of Eagle Tree Continuation High School, said the “back-to-basics” focus of Chait’s speech was a welcome departure from the tone of recent opening addresses.
“We will continue to rise for the outcomes and expectations for the success of our students. That's the message I got,” Gant-Leau said. “Very different than the others where it was a lot of… bells and whistles.”
This year the percentage of students in all grades who met or exceeded the standard are 39.7% for math, 48.3% for English and 32.1% for science. It’s unclear how this compares to students statewide because those results have yet to be released.
“The decisions will be hard, but we cannot lose sight of what defines us,” Chait said. “We are the system that lifts students to opportunity, turns potential into achievement, creates spaces of belonging, healing, growth.”
Cato Hernández
covers important issues that affect the everyday lives of Southern Californians.
Published July 21, 2026 2:41 PM
The program will focus on homes that survived the Eaton Fire.
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Mario Tama
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Getty Images
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Topline:
Altadena residents with homes that survived the Eaton Fire will soon have a chance at getting their soil cleaned up. The L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a new remediation program focused on lead contamination.
Didn’t this already happen? The federal government previously remediated properties where homes burned, although that thoroughness has been scrutinized. Helen Chavez Garcia, a spokesperson for Supervisor Kathryn Barger, said the county’s new program will be for properties that are still-standing, to help residents facing insurance obstacles.
What we know: The program will use $3 million of state and county funds for administrative and remediation costs. It will prioritize applicants who live with pregnant women or children under 6 years old. These groups face serious health risks with lead exposure.
What’s next: The program structure is being figured out, but it will be under the L.A. County Development Authority. A cohort of community organizations and researchers are helping design it. That's expected to launch this fall.
Keep up with LAist.
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Lucas Brady Woods
covers the weather and disasters, among other climate and science topics.
Published July 21, 2026 2:37 PM
A beach vendor takes a break under the Santa Monica Pier last week. More heat is in store for Southern California this week and into next.
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Mario Tama
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Topline:
A heat advisory is in place for much of Southern California from 10 a.m. Wednesday through Monday.
The heat: Temperatures are expected to climb steadily this week. Inland valleys in L.A., Riverside and San Bernardino counties will see highs between the mid-90s and about 105 degrees. Areas closer to the coast, including downtown Los Angeles and most of Orange County, will hit the 90s, while beaches hover mostly in the upper 70s. Humidity also continues to add to the discomfort, making it harder to cool down.
Fire risk: Despite higher-than-normal humidity, a combination of dry brush and wind will also increase the likelihood of fires sparking in some places. The risk will be concentrated in places prone to high winds, including parts of the 5 Freeway corridor in northern L.A. County, especially around the Grapevine, and southern Santa Barbara County.
Beach conditions: Forecasters expect dangerously large waves and strong rip currents to persist through the weekend along the Southern California coast.
Read on … to learn more about what’s driving these uncomfortable conditions.
We hope you’ve gotten used to the hot weather, because it’s going to be here for a while.
The National Weather Service has issued yet another heat advisory for much of Southern California, less than a week after other high-temperature warnings were lifted.
This week’s advisory will be in place from 10 a.m. Wednesday through Monday. Forecasters expect temperatures to climb steadily over the course of Wednesday and Thursday.
The San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley and other inland areas in L.A., as well as Riverside and San Bernardino counties, will likely see highs ranging from the mid-90s to about 105 degrees. Areas closer to the coast, including downtown Los Angeles and much of Orange County, will hit the 90s. Beaches will hover mostly in the upper 70s.
Humidity will also add to the discomfort. Even though it’s decreasing slightly, it makes cooling down harder, especially at night.
People who work outdoors or do not have air conditioning are especially at risk from the heat and humidity, along with people over 65, young children and other sensitive populations.
Making sense of heat forecasts
Southern Californians are no strangers to hot weather in the summer, but heat waves are getting hotter, longer and more frequent as the climate changes.
So you should know the words forecasters use to describe these weather events — and the risks they pose.
Heat advisory: Advisories are issued when temperatures are expected to be hot enough to cause discomfort and potentially lead to heat-related illnesses, especially for more vulnerable populations like young children and the elderly.
Extreme heat watch: Watches are essentially forecasts for upcoming periods of extreme heat. Forecasters say heat watches often cover wide areas and will be revised into more focused warnings and advisories as conditions become clearer over time. Watches are a good time to prepare for extreme heat.
Extreme heat warning: Warnings are issued when heat levels are or will likely become extremely dangerous. Under extreme heat warnings, it's a good idea to avoid strenuous outdoor activity, stay hydrated and help loved ones and pets stay cool.
Forecasters are warning that conditions are ripe for fires, driven by a combination of wind and dry vegetation.
Southern California hasn’t seen much rain recently, despite the humidity, leaving plants with little moisture and turning them into the perfect fuel.
“Even though the air feels kind of moist, we're in the time of season where it doesn't matter. The fuels are dry and they're ready to go,” said NWS meteorologist Ryan Kittell.
Kittel said people should take extra care with anything that could create a spark, and residents in fire-prone areas should remain aware of their surroundings in case a fire starts.
The fire risk is likely to be concentrated in a few specific areas that will experience higher winds than others, including parts of the 5 Freeway corridor in northern L.A. County, especially around the Grapevine, and in southern Santa Barbara County.
For most of the region, though, winds should stay fairly mild.
Dangerous beach conditions
Southern Californians also have to contend with some ocean-specific risks this week.
Forecasters expect dangerously large waves and strong rip currents to hit the coastline at a time when the heat may drive more people to the beach. The conditions are expected to persist through the weekend.
If you decide to head to the beach, it’s a good idea to ask a lifeguard for advice on the conditions before entering the water. It’s also recommended to swim only near occupied lifeguard stands, stay off of rock jetties and avoid turning your back to the waves.
South-facing stretches of coastline will bear the brunt of the swell, which is being driven by two tropical storms churning hundreds of miles away in the Pacific Ocean.
“Those two systems generated the winds and the waves locally that are pushing towards us, and so that's creating elevated surf and some stronger currents than normal,” Kittel said.
The swell is not expected to cause significant coastal flooding as high tides remain relatively low.
Free transportation to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area swim beach will be available this week as East LA families continue to seek relief from another heat wave and the aftermath of the Lineage warehouse fire.
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Free transportation to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area swim beach will be available this week as East LA families continue to seek relief from another heat wave and the aftermath of the Lineage warehouse fire.
Why now: More than a month after the Lineage Logistics warehouse fire, many residents continue to report persistent odors from rotting food and cleanup efforts. Because of the ongoing air quality concerns and community complaints, Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation has canceled its local aquatic programming.
Free rides begin Wednesday: Los Angeles County is offering complimentary transportation Wednesday through Saturday to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area Swim Beach in Irwindale. Pickup locations are at select Eastside parks.
Read on . . . for more information on the free shuttle services, schedules and more.
Free transportation to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area swim beach will be available this week as East LA families continue to seek relief from another heat wave and the aftermath of the Lineage warehouse fire.
Los Angeles County is offering complimentary transportation Wednesday through Saturday at select Eastside parks so residents can enjoy a day at the lake at no cost.
More than a month after the Lineage Logistics warehouse fire, many residents continue to report persistent odors from rotting food and cleanup efforts. Because of the ongoing air quality concerns and community complaints, Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation has canceled its local aquatic programming.
To ensure families still have access to summer recreational activities, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis directed resources toward providing the “beach bus” program to Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area Swim Beach in Irwindale.
Read below for more information on the free shuttle services, schedules and more.
Pickup locations
Belvedere Aquatic Center
5035 1st St. East Los Angeles, CA 90022
Obregon Park Pool
4021 1st St. Los Angeles, CA 90063
Salazar Park Pool
3864 Whittier Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90023
City Terrace Park Pool
1126 N. Hazard Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90063
Shuttle dates and times
Wednesday, July 22
Thursday, July 23
Friday, July 24
Saturday, July 25
Morning trip:
Check in at 8:30 a.m.
The bus departs East LA at 9 a.m.
The bus leaves Santa Fe Dam to go back to East LA at 12 p.m.
Afternoon trip:
Check in at 12:30 p.m.
The bus departs East LA at 1 p.m.
The bus leaves Santa Fe Dam to go back to East LA at 4 p.m.
What to know
No registration or proof of address is required, but children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Bring your own food and drinks. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
