Rialto Unified and Cal State San Bernardino sign direct‑admit agreement for eligible seniors

Rialto Unified School District trustees on Oct. 24 approved and formalized a memorandum of understanding with California State University, San Bernardino to create a direct‑admit pathway for qualifying seniors.

District executive Manuel Barciaga introduced the partnership, saying the agreement will identify Rialto students who meet the minimum eligibility criteria (Barciaga said a 2.5 GPA threshold will be used to compile the list) and invite them to campus events and enrollment support. A CSUSB representative described campus outreach, institutional scholarships and workshops to help families complete financial aid forms: “lo primero es motivar a los alumnos y a los estudiantes a completar el FAVSA,” the representative said.

The district said the effort aims to reduce financial and informational barriers to college by offering admitted students on‑campus visits, meetings with faculty and targeted support for FAFSA completion. Barciaga told trustees the partnership will also include direct communication between the university and local school administrators to coordinate admitted‑student outreach.

Trustees and district staff said the MOU will be followed by lists of eligible students and by scheduling of FAFSA workshops on district campuses. Interim Superintendent Dr. White and board members joined district and university staff at the dais to sign the agreement at the meeting.

The board did not identify a specific start date for student outreach beyond saying staff would begin sharing eligible‑student lists “in the coming weeks.”