Bill Text: CA AB1145 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Pupils: Early Commitment to College program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - From Senate committee without further action. [AB1145 Detail]
Download: California-2015-AB1145-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 1145 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 1, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 6, 2015
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Medina
FEBRUARY 27, 2015
An act to amend Section 54715 of, and to add Section
54715.5 to, of the Education Code, relating to
pupils.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1145, as amended, Medina. Pupils: Early Commitment to College
program.
Existing law establishes the Early Commitment to College program.
Participation by pupils, school districts, colleges, and universities
in the program is voluntary. A pupil scheduled to graduate from high
school after 2017 is not allowed to participate. The Superintendent
of Public Instruction is required, among other program duties, to
designate the 30% of public schools that maintain any of grades 6 to
9, inclusive, with the highest proportion of low-income pupils, as
defined, as College Opportunity Zones. A school that is designated as
a College Opportunity Zone in a participating school district by the
Superintendent is required to give all pupils enrolled in grades 6
to 9, inclusive, and their parents or guardians, the opportunity to
sign a "Save Me a Spot in College" pledge developed by the
Superintendent. Schools not designated as a College Opportunity Zone
in a participating school district are required to give pupils who
are eligible for free and reduced-price meals and are enrolled in
grades 6 to 9, inclusive, and their parents or guardians, the
opportunity to sign a "Save Me a Spot in College" pledge.
Participating school districts are required to provide college
information and college preparation events inclusive of pupils who
sign the pledge.
The program provides that a pupil who signs a pledge declares a
commitment to prepare for college, finish high school, and enroll in
college and commits, among other things, to meet all graduation
requirements, take college preparatory coursework, complete and file
a free application for federal student aid, and submit his or her
grade point average to the Student Aid Commission by March 2 of his
or her senior year. The program further provides that a pupil who
signs the pledge and is certified by his or her school district as
having fulfilled the requirements of the pledge receives, upon
enrollment at a community college, a fee waiver under the fee waiver
program of the Board of Governors of the California Community
Colleges for 2 or more years of enrollment at a California community
college.
Existing law requires the Superintendent to submit a report on the
status of the program, including a recommendation to the Legislature
on whether the program should be continued, on or before November 1,
2017. Existing law repeals the provisions establishing the program
on January 1, 2019.
This bill would instead require the
Superintendent to submit specified data
include additional specified information in its report to the
Legislature relating to the program to the Legislative
Analyst's Office on or before November 1, 2016. The Legislative
Analyst's Office would then be required, on or before November 1,
2017, to submit to the Legislature a report including specified
information and a recommendation on whether the program should be
continued. program. The bill would require the
Superintendent, on or before January 31, 2016, to inform certain
policy committees of the Legislature of its plans for complying with
these reporting requirements.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 54715 of the Education Code is amended to read:
54715. (a) On or before November 1,
2016, 2017, the Superintendent shall
submit to the Legislative Analyst's Office data relating to
Legislature a report on the status of the
program, including, but not necessarily limited to, the following
information:
(a)
(1) The number of school districts and pupils
participating in the program.
(b)
(2) The number of participating pupils who fulfilled
the requirements of the pledge pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section
54711.
(c)
(3) Any relevant outcome data reported by school
districts to the Superintendent pursuant to subdivision (b) of
Section 54711.
(4) To the extent that the data is available, the rate of
enrollment of pupils who took the pledge in university or other
postsecondary educational programs.
(5) Any local or state factors contributing to the success or
failure of the program.
(6) The level of technical expertise and guidance provided by the
department to school districts participating in the program.
(b) As part of the report required pursuant to subdivision (a),
the Superintendent shall provide a recommendation on whether the
program should be continued.
(c) On or before January 31, 2016, the Superintendent shall inform
the Assembly Committee on Education, the Assembly Committee on
Higher Education, and the Senate Committee on Education of its plans
for complying with the reporting requirements of subdivision (a).
(d) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be
submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
SEC. 2. Section 54715.5 is added to the
Education Code, to read:
54715.5. (a) On or before November 1, 2017, the Legislative
Analyst's Office shall submit to the Legislature a report relating to
the program. This report shall include, but not necessarily be
limited to, all of the following information:
(1) The number of school districts and pupils participating in the
program.
(2) The number of participating pupils who fulfilled the
requirements of the pledge pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section
54711.
(3) To the extent that the data is available, the rate of
enrollment of pupils who took the pledge in university or other
postsecondary educational programs.
(4) Any local or state factors contributing to the success or
failure of the program.
(5) Any relevant outcome data reported by school districts to the
Superintendent pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 54711.
(6) The level of technical expertise and guidance provided by the
Superintendent to school districts participating in the program.
(b) As part of the report required by this section, the
Legislative Analyst's Office shall provide a recommendation on
whether the program should be continued.
