UC to offer free online courses to low-income high schools

Details: Starting in the winter term of 2024, the UC system will make available two for-credit classes to students in schools that have received a federal designation for having large lower-income populations.

• Under the guidance of UC professors and teaching fellows, classes will span various disciplines and target subjects students are not able to easily study in high school or community college.
• Students themselves will face no fees, but the equity lab will charge participating high schools $250 per student to cover operating costs.

Of note: Twelve other universities, including Stanford, are currently part of the program.

The big picture: About 35% of people 25 and older in California have a bachelor's degree, compared to nearly 60% in San Francisco County, per data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Yes, but: Racial disparities remain, with Latino, Indigenous and Black populations generally at a lower level of educational attainment compared to white and Asian populations.