The Kern Math Bridge program will be the third funded by California’s Regional K-16 Education Collaboratives Grant Program for Central Valley students presented by CVHEC and partners College Bridge and Rand Corporation.
Kern K-16 awards $250,000 state grant
to CVHEC for Kern Math Bridge Program
BY TOM URIBES
CVHEC Communications Lead
(JAN. 14, 2026) — The Kern Regional K-16 Education Collaborative has awarded a $250,000 state grant to the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) to expand the Kern Math Bridge program, strengthening college-level math preparation and postsecondary pathways for Kern County high school students.
The grant, funded through California’s Regional K-16 Education Collaboratives Grant Programs as part of the statewide drive to strengthen the K-16 education-to-career pipeline, supports CVHEC’s partnership with College Bridge and the RAND Corporation. It marks the consortium’s third Math Bridge award in the Central Valley building on grants through the Fresno-Madera K-16 Collaborative in 2023 and the WE Will! North Valley K-16 Collaborative in 2024.
Together, the three grants represent a coordinated regional strategy to align high school, community college and university systems around equitable student success in mathematics, said CVHEC Executive Director Dr. Benjamín Durán.
“This award reflects both the strength of our partnerships and the demonstrated impact of the Central Valley Math Bridge model across our 10-county region,” Dr. Durán said. “By expanding Math Bridge into Kern County with our partners College Bridge, Rand and now Kern K-16, we are helping more students successfully transition from high school to college with the skills, confidence and momentum they need to persist and complete. “
Kimberly Graham, director of the Kern Regional K-16 Education Collaborative, announced the funding of the Kern Math Bridge with CVHEC and College Bridge Dec 10, 2025 saying it represents “your commitment to addressing educational and workforce inequities and for developing impactful solutions to meet the needs of our region.”
Elaine Cash, CVHEC grants and programs coordinator, said, “With this latest investment, CVHEC continues to scale a proven model designed to close equity gaps in mathematics and improve college access and completion for underrepresented students.”
She added, “The students recruited to participate in this program are those who have struggled in math and would not otherwise consider themselves ready to take a transfer level college math course.”
The Kern Math Bridge program provides high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to enroll in transfer-level college math courses while still in high school, paired with an embedded College Transition Bridge curriculum that emphasizes college readiness, academic confidence and pathway planning. Students complete critical gateway math requirements before graduation, positioning them to enter college on track for degree completion.
College Bridge, a national nonprofit organization specializing in college transition and readiness, serves as a founding partner of the Central Valley Math Bridge program.
“In the junior and senior years of high school, underrepresented students have the opportunity and support to successfully complete the critical gateway requirements in transfer-level college math while mapping their chosen pathways to and through the Central Valley colleges and universities of their choice,” Cash explained.
The high school students are enrolled in dual enrollment college Math Bridge courses, she said. These transfer-level math courses include a College Transition Bridge (CT Bridge) curriculum that offers students a comprehensive college-readiness experience, including an introduction to Pathway Program Mapper in coordination with the CVHEC Transfer Project.
Under the Kern K-16 grant, CVHEC and College Bridge will work with local high schools, community colleges and county education partners to expand Math Bridge course offerings and increase the number of students served. Math Bridge is currently underway inTaft with the West Kern Community College District and Taft College, both CVHEC members. Bakersfield College, also a CHEC member, will participate in the expanded phase.
Participating students earn college credit while receiving structured academic and advising support that demystifies college expectations and pathways.
The Kern Regional K-16 Education Collaborative is one of California’s multi-sector partnerships established to strengthen the education-to-workforce pipeline by aligning K-12 schools, community colleges, universities and regional employers. Grant awards are competitively selected based on their potential to advance equity, improve student outcomes and respond to regional workforce priorities.
CVHEC’s selection for Kern Math Bridge reflects the program’s track record and scalability, as well as its alignment with the state’s Recovery with Equity framework. By focusing on early completion of transfer-level math, the program addresses one of the most significant barriers to college persistence and degree attainment.
As implementation begins in Kern County, CVHEC and its partners will collaborate closely with participating schools to recruit students, support instructors and ensure consistent program quality. Evaluation findings from RAND will help guide future expansion and inform best practices across the region.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Tom Uribes, text 559.348.3278 cvheccommunications@mail.fresnostate.edu
See:
CV Math Bridge – September 25, 2025
Math Bridge update: data shows an 89% pass rate – September 8, 2025
CVHEC presents on Master’s Upskill, Math Bridge programs for California Dual Enrollment Equity Conference – March 7, 2025
MATH BRIDGE UPDATE: providing tools for postsecondary journeys – January 16, 2025
MATH BRIDGE UPDATE- April 2024 – April 17, 2024
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