Bill Text: CA AB2178 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 2178

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: Community colleges: county probation departments: instructional service agreements.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)

Status: (Engrossed) 2026-06-22 - In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file. [AB2178 Detail]

Download: California-2025-AB2178-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2178

Introduced by Assembly Members Quirk-Silva and Pacheco

February 19, 2026

An act to add Article 6.5 (commencing with Section 78078) to Chapter 1 of Part 48 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to community colleges.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2178, as introduced, Quirk-Silva. Community colleges: county probation departments: instructional service agreements.

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state and authorizes them to operate campuses and provide instruction.

Existing law authorizes the governing board of a community college district to enter into a College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) partnership with the governing board of a school district, a county office of education, or the governing body of a charter school for the purpose of offering or expanding dual enrollment opportunities for pupils who may not already be college bound or who are underrepresented in higher education, as provided. Existing law authorizes the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to establish the Rising Scholars Network to enter into agreements with community colleges to provide additional funds for services in support of postsecondary education for justice-involved students, as defined.

This bill, the Juvenile Justice Education Access and Equity Act, would authorize a home community college district, as defined, or an eligible institution associated with the home community college district, to enter into an instructional services agreement with a county probation department to provide academic or career technical education courses at a juvenile justice facility operated by the county probation department. The bill would authorize a non-home community college district, or an eligible institution associated with the non-home community college district, to enter into an instructional services agreement with a county probation department if the home community college district and associated eligible institutions are unable, unwilling, or fail to provide requested academic or career technical education courses to a juvenile justice facility within 90 days of a written request from the administrator of the juvenile justice facility. The bill would prohibit the home community college district and associated eligible institutions from prohibiting, blocking, or otherwise interfering with the ability of the non-home community college district, or an eligible institution associated with the non-home community college district, to provide instruction at the juvenile justice facility, as provided.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Article 6.5 (commencing with Section 78078) is added to Chapter 1 of Part 48 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read:

Article 6.5. Juvenile Justice Education Access and Equity Act

78078.

This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the Juvenile Justice Education Access and Equity Act.

78079.

(a) For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Eligible institution” means an accredited community college authorized to enter into instructional services agreements under state law.

(2) “Home community college district” means the community college district assigned to serve the geographic area in which the juvenile justice facility is located.

(3) “Instructional services agreement” means an agreement to provide academic or career technical education courses to a juvenile justice facility.

(4) “Juvenile justice facility” means a juvenile hall, youth correctional center, or camp operated by a county probation department.

(5) “Non-home community college district” means a community college district not assigned to serve the geographic area in which the juvenile justice facility is located.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, a home community college district, or an eligible institution associated with the home community college district, may enter into an instructional services agreement with a county probation department.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, a non-home community college district, or an eligible institution associated with the non-home community college district, may enter into an instructional services agreement with a county probation department if the home community college district and all eligible institutions associated with the home community college district are unable, unwilling, or fail to provide requested academic or career technical education courses at a juvenile justice facility within 90 days of a written request from the administrator of the juvenile justice facility.

(d) Upon occurrence of the conditions described in subdivision (c), the home community college district and an eligible institution associated with the home community college district shall not prohibit, block, or otherwise interfere with the ability of the non-home community college district, or an eligible institution associated with the non-home community college district, to provide instruction at the juvenile justice facility.

(e) This article shall not be interpreted to:

(1) Prevent the home community college district, or an eligible institution associated with the home community college district, from continuing to offer its own courses.

(2) Grant exclusive instructional rights to a non-home community college district or an eligible institution associated with the non-home community college district.

(3) Eliminate requirements to comply with applicable instructional services agreement, apportionment, academic, or reporting requirements.

(f) This article shall only be interpreted to expand access to postsecondary education for justice-involved youth when existing delivery mechanisms fail to meet documented needs. This article shall not be construed to restructure community college governance, modify community college district service areas, or alter statewide apportionment policy.