Fresno Pacific University (FPU) is making college more accessible for Central Valley students through new guaranteed admission agreements with Fresno Unified and Clovis Unified school districts. The partnerships create a direct pathway to a four-year university education, offering eligible high school students automatic admission, college scholarships, and financial aid opportunities.

In this edition of Education Matters, we explore how Fresno Pacific University is working to remove barriers to higher education and help more Fresno County students earn bachelor's degrees.

Community schools are transforming public education by connecting students and families with essential resources, improving student attendance, and removing barriers to learning. At Fort Miller Middle School in Fresno, California, the Community Schools Partnership Program is helping families access food assistance, clothing, mental health services, and other support while strengthening relationships between schools and their communities.

Orange Center Elementary School is celebrating 150 years of education, community pride, and student success in Fresno County, California. The historic rural school district has served generations of families while continuing to expand educational opportunities through bilingual education, dual language immersion, music programs, and modernized classrooms.

In this edition of Education Matters, we visit Orange Center School to celebrate its 150th anniversary and explore what makes this small, close-knit school community so special.