The University of La Verne has partnered with more than a dozen Southern California school districts and organizations for one of the region’s single-largest initiatives to ensure that students have access to a high-quality, affordable college education.

The Partnership for Access to College Education (PACE) launched on Jan. 19 with public school districts that encompass more than 50 high schools and serve more than 226,000 students per year.

The program promises qualified students from the districts a pathway to college that includes:

• Access to college preparatory courses

• Guaranteed college admission

• Guaranteed financial aid of at least $10,000 per year

• Application fee waivers

• And a range of programs to assist with college readiness and the application process About half of the students who attend the University of La Verne are the first in their families to go to college. About 75 percent of first-time freshman come from within 50 miles of La Verne.

PACE founding partners include: Alhambra Unified School District, Bishop Conaty – Our Lady of Loretto High School, Bonita Unified School District, Chaffey Joint Union High School District, Covina Unified School District, Duarte Unified School District, Fontana Unified School District; Also, Monrovia Unified School District, Montebello Unified School District, Pomona Unified School District, San Diego College Bound, Upland Unified School District, West Covina Unified School District, and Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District.

The partnership will go into effect immediately, starting with current high school seniors who apply for the fall 2017 term.