Bill Text: CA SB1143 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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

---

Bill Title: Community colleges: student success and completion:

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2010-09-28 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 409, Statutes of 2010. [SB1143 Detail]

Download: California-2009-SB1143-Amended.html

---

BILL NUMBER: SB 1143	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 21, 2010
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 1, 2010
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 5, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Liu
   (Coauthor: Senator Alquist)

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2010

   An act to add Section 84502 to the Education Code, relating to
community  college funding   colleges  .


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1143, as amended, Liu. Community  college funding.
  colleges: student success and completion. 
   Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under
the administration of the Board of Governors of the California
Community Colleges, as one of the 3 segments of public postsecondary
education in this state.  Existing law establishes a system
of funding community colleges pursuant to which calculations based on
the number of full-time equivalent students (FTES) enrolled in
classes at the colleges are a major factor.  
   This bill would require the board of governors to calculate FTES
using the average active enrollment in a course as of a specified
census date and at course completion. The bill would authorize the
board of governors to adopt an alternative and equivalent calculation
method for designated types of courses. The bill would require that
a decrease in FTES in a district that is due solely to a change in
calculation required by this bill shall not result in a reduction in
the general apportionment made to that district prior to the 2013-14
fiscal year. The bill would prohibit implementation of the FTES
calculation from resulting in a reduction in overall system funding
for student enrollment or statewide requested changes in budgeted
workload FTES.  
   This bill would require the board to adopt a plan for promoting
and improving student success within the California Community
Colleges and to establish a taskforce to examine specified best
practices and models for accomplishing student success. The bill
would require the taskforce to develop and present specified
recommendations to the board for incorporation into the plan to
improve student success and completion within the California
Community Colleges. The bill would require the board, prior to
implementation of the plan, to report the contents of the plan, and
the recommendations of the taskforce, to specified legislative
committees by June 1, 2012. 
   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.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) The low rate of degree completion among community college
students is threatening California's economic future.
   (b) In order to reach the education levels of the most competitive
economies, the number of students earning college degrees in
California each year must increase by more than 50 percent.
   (c) Over 70 percent of public undergraduate enrollment in
California is in the community colleges.
   (d) Only 24 percent of degree-seeking students complete a
certificate or associate degree or transfer to a four-year college or
university within six years.
   (e) Under current law, community colleges receive most of their
annual funds based on student enrollment in the third week of each
semester.
   (f) This method of allocating funds creates an incentive for
community colleges to enroll students, but no fiscal incentive for
those colleges to help students complete their courses and earn
degrees. Currently, only about 60 percent of community college
courses are successfully completed.
   (g) Many of today's community college students require extensive
academic and student support services to remain enrolled and succeed.
Community colleges lack the resources and the incentives to invest
in this level of student support. 
  SEC. 2.    Section 84502 is added to the Education
Code, to read:
   84502.  For purposes of calculating changes in full-time
equivalent students (FTES) enrollment pursuant to paragraphs (1) to
(6), inclusive, of subdivision (d) of Section 84750.5, the rules and
regulations prescribed pursuant to Section 84500 shall calculate
full-time equivalent student enrollment using the average active
enrollment in a course as of the census date at the one-fifth point
and at course completion.
   (a) The board of governors may adopt an alternative and equivalent
calculation method for the following:
   (1) Short term credit courses.
   (2) Irregularly scheduled credit courses.
   (3) Open entry/open exit courses.
   (4) In-service training courses.
   (5) Noncredit courses, except for distance education courses.
   (6) Apprenticeship classes of related and supplemental
instruction.
   (7) Tutoring courses.
   (b) The board shall adopt one or more weighting factors for the
FTES calculation in order to ensure that districts do not have a
disincentive to enroll students from demographic groups with
historically lower rates of course completion, including low-income
students as measured by Pell Grant eligibility, English language
learners, students with disabilities, and students entering with
English or math, or both, competencies below college level.
   (c) A decrease in the FTES of a district that is due solely to the
change in calculation required by this section shall not result in a
reduction of revenue apportioned to that district pursuant to
Section 84750.5 prior to the 2013-14 fiscal year.
   (d) The implementation of the FTES calculation prescribed by this
section shall not result in a reduction in overall system funding for
student enrollment or statewide requested changes in budgeted
workload FTES. Notwithstanding Section 84750.5, the funding rates per
FTES set forth in subdivision (d) of Section 84750.5 shall be
adjusted by dividing the appropriation for FTES in the Budget Act of
2010 by the number of FTES calculated pursuant to the calculation
prescribed by this section. 
   SEC. 2.    (a) The Board of Governors of the
California Community Colleges shall adopt a plan for promoting and
improving student success within the California Community Colleges
and shall establish a taskforce to examine best practices within the
community colleges and effective models throughout the nation for
accomplishing student success. The members of the taskforce shall
include a broad representation of stakeholders, including, but not
limited to, faculty.  
   (b) The taskforce shall develop and present recommendations to the
board for incorporation into the plan to improve student success and
completion within the California Community Colleges. These
recommendations shall focus on, but not be limited to, all of the
following considerations:  
   (1) Multiple measures and effective programs for assessing student
success and completion.  
   (2) Statutory and regulatory barriers to student success and
completion.  
   (3) Best practices for promoting student success and completion,
including, but not limited to, the acquisition of basic skills. 

   (4) Alternative funding options for providing necessary services
to students and promoting best practices for student success and
completion.  
   (5) Alternative funding options instituted in other states for
improving student success and completion.  
   (6) The effective use of technology by community colleges and
districts to promote, evaluate, and improve student success and
completion.  
   (c) Prior to presenting recommendations pursuant to subdivision
(b), the taskforce and the board shall facilitate discussions with
key community college stakeholders and other appropriate parties to
provide input on the findings and recommendations of the taskforce.
 
   (d) Prior to implementing the plan adopted pursuant to subdivision
(a), the board shall report the contents of the plan, and the
recommendations of the taskforce, to the Senate Committee on
Education and the Assembly Committee on Higher Education at a joint
hearing that shall be convened on or before June 1, 2012.