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 Analysts Office on or before November 1, 2016. The Legislative Analysts 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.

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, report on the status of the program, including a recommendation to the Legislature, 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 relating to the program to the Legislative Analysts Office on or before November 1, 2016. The Legislative Analysts 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.

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, 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 to the Legislative Analysts Office on or before November 1, 2016. The Legislative Analysts 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.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Senator Carol Liu, Chair

2015 - 2016 Regular

Bill No: AB 1145

Subject: Pupils: Early Commitment to College program

SUMMARY

This bill modifies and expands existing reporting requirements regarding the Early Commitment to College program.

BACKGROUND

Existing law establishes the Early Commitment to College (ECC) program, a voluntary program in which school districts may participate for the purpose of providing schoolwide college information and college preparation events. Under the program, a student signs a pledge declaring a commitment to prepare for college, finish high school, and enroll in college. In addition, the student commits to meeting all high school graduation requirements, enrolling in college preparatory coursework, seeking to achieve proficiency in math and English, completing the federal application for student aid, submitting a grade point average to the Student Aid Commission and meeting application and other requirements for university admission or community college enrollment within 12 months of high school graduation.

(Education Code § 54710-54716)

Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to submit data relating to the ECC program to the Legislature on the number of districts and pupils participating, the number of pupils who fulfilled the requirements of the pledge, and any relevant outcome data reported by districts by November 1, 2017. (EC § 54715)

ANALYSIS

This bill:

1. Modifies existing reporting requirements regarding the Early Commitment to College Program. It:

1. Requires the SPI to submit the specified data to the LAO, rather than the Legislature.

2. Changes the year by which the SPI must report the data from 2017 to 2016.

3. Eliminates the requirement that the SPI report include recommendations on the program’s continuance.

2. Requires the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) to submit a report by November 1, 2017 to the Legislature relating to the Early Commitment program. It:

1. Requires that the report include the data gathered by the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI).

2. Establishes the following new elements to be included in the report:

1. To the extent available, data on the rate of enrollment of program participants in university or other postsecondary educational program.

2. Local or state factors contributing to the program’s success/failure.

3. The level of technical expertise and guidance provided to school districts by the SPI.

3. Requires that LAO make a recommendation on the program’s continuance as part of the report.

STAFF COMMENTS

1. Need for the bill. According to the author, there has been a lack of support and funding for completion of the reporting requirements relative to implementation of the Early Commitment to College program. According to the California Department of Education (CDE), staffing changes, coupled with the reduction in resources which occurred shortly after the original bill’s passage have created challenges to the production of the required report. Without leadership and support, it does not appear that the CDE report will be useful to the Legislature in determining the strengths and weaknesses of the existing program. This bill is intended to ensure that the Legislature receives the information necessary to inform the creation of a stronger program that connects low-income students to higher education.

2. History of the program. SB 890 (Scott, Statutes of 2008) established the Early College Commitment program, a voluntary program administered by the SPI. Districts volunteering to participate in this program are required to undertake a variety of activities aimed at increasing high school completion rates and motivating pupils to take rigorous college preparatory or career technical coursework. It also provides participating pupils a California Community College (CCC) fee waiver for two or more years of enrollment, as long as the pupil is a California resident and continues to show financial need on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The program sunsets on January 1, 2019.

According to the Campaign for College Opportunity, the original sponsors of the bill, the Early Commitment to College (ECC) program was a way for California to renew the 1960 Master Plan (that any California student with interest in attending college, could pursue a college education in California), and for the first time, make college directly accessible to students and their families beginning in middle school.

According to the CDE, the ECCP was launched by the CDE in 2009, but under the prior administration, never requested or received funding to administer the program. The California Department of Education (CDE) did send information to school districts as required, and post program information on its website. However, no data has been collected about program participation, and CDE currently has no information on the number of districts that are participating.

3. CDE Status/LAO Capacity. The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) is currently responsible for a large number of statutorily required evaluations, at least six of which are required in 2017, and in recent years has increasingly been assigned responsibility for reports in the area of higher education policy. This is likely due to the elimination of the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) in 2011. These reports are in addition to the existing responsibilities of the LAO.

As drafted, this bill would still require the CDE to administer the program and collect the data, so it is unclear whether incorporation of the LAO addresses the underlying concerns which resulted in the bill. In addition, the CDE reports that it is their intent to comply with the reporting requirements and has begun to discuss information gathering methodology and timelines for completing the statutorily required report.

Staff recommends the bill be amended to delete the LAO reporting responsibilities and to incorporate the new reporting requirements into the existing statute as part of the SPI report.

Staff further recommends the bill be amended to require the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to inform the appropriate legislative committees of their plans for complying with the reporting requirements by January 31, 2016.

SUPPORT

California School Boards Association

Campaign for College Opportunity

Dave Jones, Insurance Commissioner

OPPOSITION

None received.

-- END --

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AB 1145

Author:(Medina)

As Amended Ver:May 6, 2015

Majority vote

SUMMARY: Requires the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), on or before November 1, 2016, to submit specified data from the California Department of Education (CDE) on the Early Commitment to College Program (ECCP) to the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO); and, requires the LAO to submit a report on said data to the Legislature, on or before November 1, 2017. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the SPI, on or before November 1, 2016, to submit to the LAO, CDE data relating to ECCP.

2. Requires the LAO, on or before November 1, 2017, to submit to the Legislature a report relating to the ECCP, that shall include, but not necessarily be limited to all of the following:

   1. The number of school districts and pupils participating in ECCP;

   2. The number of participating pupils who fulfilled the requirements of the ECCP, as specified in existing law;

   3. 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 SPI, as specified in existing law; and,

   6. The level of technical expertise and guidance provided by the SPI to school districts participating in the ECCP.

3. Requires that the LAO, in preparing the ECCP report, to provide a recommendation on whether the ECCP should be continued.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes the ECCP, with voluntary participation by pupils and school districts, for the purposes of accomplishing all of the following goals:

   1. Increase high school completion rates, direct college-going rates, and college preparation of pupils attending schools with the greatest poverty and among low-income pupils in general;

   2. Motivate pupils to prepare for college by taking college preparatory coursework, which may include career technical coursework and the course requirements for admission to the University of California and the California State University;

   3. Help families understand that college is attainable and affordable, that financial aid is available, and that with the right preparation their children can go to college if they choose to do so;

   4. Provide a clear path and direct assistance for pupils through middle schools, high schools, community colleges, universities, and state and federal financial aid programs, thereby improving opportunity and efficiency;

   5. Strengthen the state's historic promise of college access made in the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education and express this commitment directly to middle and high school pupils and their families; and,

   6. Prepare the highly skilled workforce necessary to keep California's economy competitive, maintain the income and quality of life for California residents, increase tax revenues, and provide for improved civic and democratic participation (Education Code (EC) Sections 54710 and 54711).

2. Specifies that school districts who choose to participate in the ECCP, shall provide schoolwide college information and college preparation events inclusive of pupils who sign the "Save Me a Spot in College" pledge; defines "College Opportunity Zone" (COZ) to mean the 30% of public schools that maintain any of grades 6 to 9, inclusive, with the highest proportion of "low-income pupils" (defined as a pupil who is eligible for free or reduced-price meals); specifies schools not designated as a COZ, are eligible to participate, so long as they give pupils (enrolled in grades 6 to 9, inclusive), who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals and/or their parents or legal guardians, the opportunity to sign the pledge; and, specifies a pupil scheduled to graduate from high school after 2017 shall not be allowed to enroll in the program (EC Section 54711).

3. Requires the SPI to perform, including, but not necessarily limited to, the following responsibilities: a) identify schools as COZ; b) develop the pledge, as specified; and, c) develop a letter addressed to pupils enrolled in grades 6 to 9, inclusive, and their parents and/or legal guardians, and signed by the SPI and superintendent of the school district that describes the major steps to prepare for college and the postsecondary and financial aid opportunities available to students in California; and, d) on or before November 2017, submit a report to the Legislature on the status of the ECCP (EC Sections 54712 and 54715).

4. Sunsets the ECCP on January 1, 2019, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2019, deletes or extends that date (EC Section 54716).

FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, any costs to the LAO should be minor and absorbable. Additionally, there are no additional costs to the SPI, since the data is already required to be collected by the SPI pursuant to current law.

COMMENTS: Background on ECCP. Created via SB 890 (Scott), Chapter 472, Statutes of 2008, ECCP was based on two values widely shared by Californians: 1) educational opportunity; and, 2) joint responsibility. According to the Campaign for College Opportunity, the ECCP was a way for California to renew the 1960 Master Plan (that any California student with interest in attending college, could pursue a college education in California), and for the first time, make college directly accessible to students and their families beginning in middle school.

The ECCP was launched in 2009 by the CDE; but due to limited to zero resources given to the CDE to provide the necessary support to the SPI in running the ECCP, Committee staff believes that the ECCP may not have reached its full potential.

Need for the measure. According to the author's office, the ECCP promotes social equity by connecting students who otherwise might not attend college with the necessary tools and resources on how to attend college. The author contends the ECCP benefits the public good, as an educated work force results in long-term cost savings by increased tax revenue from more people going to, and finishing, college.

The author states, "The Early Commitment to College program, if implemented correctly, benefits all residents of California. The goal [of AB 1145] is to inform the creation of a stronger program that connects low-income students to higher education."

To note, Committee staff understands that the SPI may have experienced challenges in meeting the requirements as set forth in SB 890 and being able to produce a report on the ECCP, however, the Legislature still needs a report in order to ascertain if the intent and goals of the ECCP were achieved.

Analysis Prepared by: Jeanice Warden / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960 FN: 0000761

Date of Hearing: May 20, 2015

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Jimmy Gomez, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1145

Author:(Medina) – As Amended Ver:May 6, 2015

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill requires a report on the Early Commitment to College Program (ECCP). Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the Superintendent of Public Construction (SPI), in lieu of reporting to the Legislature on the program by November 1, 2017, to instead provide data about the program to the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) by November 1, 2016.

2. Requires the LAO, by November 1, 2017, to report to the Legislature specified information about the program, including a recommendation on whether the program should be continued.

FISCAL EFFECT:

1. Any costs to the LAO should be minor and absorbable.

2. No additional costs to the SPI, since the data is already required to be collected by the SPI pursuant to current law.

COMMENTS:

1. Background on ECCP. SB 890 (Scott), Chapter 472, Statutes of 2008, established the ECCP, with voluntary participation by students and school districts, for the purposes of increasing college-going rates, motivating students to prepare for college, helping students understand that college is attainable and affordable, providing a clear path to college, and preparing a highly skilled workforce.

According to the California Department of Education (CDE), under the prior administration of the Department, the CDE never received funding to administer this program. The CDE did send information to school districts as required, and post program information on its website, but that information has since been removed. No data was collected about program participation, and CDE has no information on the number of districts that are participating.

Information available online suggests that thousands of students did take the ECCP pledge, including “thousands at nine middle schools” in the Los Angeles Unified School District and 15,000 in the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD). The LBUSD program, called the Long Beach College Promise, was implemented in conjunction with a one-semester tuition-free guarantee from California State University, Long Beach, as well as college scholarships. Since this program was built on existing local models, it is likely that there are more participating districts, though the extent to which their activities are a result of the ECCP may be difficult to determine.

2. Purpose. According to the author, "The goal [of the ECCP] is to inform the creation of a stronger program that connects low-income students to higher education. Due to lack of support and funding, the implementation of this voluntary program has not been successful. The program sunsets in 2019, and a report on participation rates is due in 2017 to the Legislature. Without leadership and support, it does not appear that the CDE report will be useful to the Legislature in determining the strengths and weaknesses of the existing program.”

3. Comment. Given that the program was not funded and CDE apparently lacks the data they are required to collect for the program, it is not clear how the LAO could conclude that there is a basis for continuing the program, nor is it clear that doing this report should be a priority use of the LAO's staff resources.

Analysis Prepared by: Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: April 29, 2015

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Patrick O'Donnell, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1145

Author:(Medina) – As Introduced Ver:February 27, 2015

SUBJECT: Students: Early Commitment to College program

SUMMARY: Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), by November 1, 2016, to submit specified data on the Early Commitment to College Program (ECCP) to the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO), and requires the LAO to submit a report on this data to the Legislature, by November 1, 2017. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the SPI, by November 1, 2016, to submit to the LAO and CDE data relating to ECCP.

2. Requires the LAO, on or before November 1, 2017, to submit to the Legislature a report relating to the ECCP that includes:

1. the number of school districts and students participating in ECCP

2. the number of participating students who fulfilled the requirements of the ECCP

3. any relevant outcome data reported by school districts to the SPI

4. the level of technical expertise and guidance provided by the SPI to school districts participating in the ECCP

5. a recommendation on whether the ECCP should be continued.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes the ECCP, with voluntary participation by students and school districts, for the purposes of increasing college-going rates, motivating students to prepare for college, helping students understand that college is attainable and affordable, providing a clear path to college, and preparing a highly skilled workforce. Sunsets the ECCP on January 1, 2019.

2. Requires school districts which choose to participate in the ECCP to provide school-wide college information and college preparation event, and establishes a “Save me a Spot in College” pledge.

3. Defines "College Opportunity Zone" (COZ) to mean the 30 percent of public schools that maintain any of grades 6 to 9, inclusive, with the highest proportion of low-income students.

4. Requires the SPI to write letters to students in grades 6 to 9 and their parents which describe the major steps to prepare for college and the major postsecondary and financial aid opportunities available, and detail the Early Commitment to College program.

5. Requires the SPI to make these letters and program information available on its website and request all school districts to distribute the letters to students and their parents.

6. Specifies that a student scheduled to graduate from high school after 2017 is allowed to enroll in the program.

7. Requires the SPI to identify schools as COZs, develop the pledge, develop a letter to parents, and by November 1, 2017 submit a report to the Legislature on the status of the program. The report must have the following information:

1. the number of school districts and students participating in the program

2. the number of participating students who fulfilled the requirements of the pledge

3. any relevant outcome data reported by school districts to the Superintendent

4. a recommendation on whether the program should be continued.

8. Specifies the actions a student who signs the “Save Me a Spot in College” pledge commits to do, including meeting graduation requirements, enrolling in college preparatory coursework, seeking to achieve proficiency in mathematics and reading, complete and file a free application for federal student aid, meet application and other requirements for university admission or enroll directly in community college within 12 months after high school graduation.

9. Specifies the actions that school districts commit to take, including ensuring that each student receives a certificate of participation in the program, receives college information and a transcript review, and goes on a visit to at least one community college. School districts must also provide information on college admission and community college enrollment and financial aid at various points in high school.

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown

COMMENTS:

Need for the measure. The author's office states, “The Early Commitment to College program, if implemented correctly, benefits all residents of California. The goal [of this bill] is to inform the creation of a stronger program that connects low-income students to higher education.

Due to lack of support and funding, the implementation of this voluntary program has not been successful. The program sunsets in 2019, and a report on participation rates is due in 2017 to the Legislature. Without leadership and support, it does not appear that the CDE report will be useful to the Legislature in determining the strengths and weaknesses of the existing program.”

What happened to this program? According to the CDE, under the prior administration of the Department the CDE never received funding to administer this program. That administration also never submitted a budget change proposal (BCP) requesting funding for that purpose. The CDE did send information to school districts as required, and post program information on its website. That information has since been removed. No data was collected about program participation, and CDE has no information on the number of districts that are participating.

According to the author’s staff, the proponents of the legislation that established the program worked to administer the program, creating, for example, a program toolkit which is still available online. But faced with other workload demands, that organization eventually ceased their support as well.

Information available online suggests that thousands of students did take the ECCP pledge, including “thousands at nine middle schools” in the Los Angeles Unified School District and 15,000 in the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD). These districts, according to the LBUSD, were two of the first four to implement the program. The LBUSD program, called the Long Beach College Promise, was implemented in conjunction with a one-semester tuition-free guarantee from California State University, Long Beach, as well as college scholarships. Since this program was built on existing local models, it is likely that there are more participating districts, though the extent to which their activities are a result of the ECCP may be difficult to determine.

Who should write the report? In recent years the LAO has increasingly been assigned responsibility for reports in the area of higher education policy. This is likely due to the elimination of the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) in 2011. The LAO has indicated that this increasing workload has become a problem. The author’s office recognizes this issue, and is seeking alternatives to assigning this responsibility to the LAO, such as the California Research Bureau (California State Library).

What will this report tell the Legislature? This bill requires that the LAO report to the Legislature in a largely descriptive manner on the program. It requires that the LAO report on:

• the number of school districts and students participating in the program

• the number of participating students who fulfilled the requirements of the pledge

• any relevant outcome data reported by school districts to the Superintendent

• the level of technical expertise and guidance provided by the SPI to school districts participating in the program

• a recommendation on whether the program should be continued

Since the goal of this program was to increase college-going rates, that is the metric by which the program should be evaluated. By requiring information on the number of students who fulfilled the pledge, current law requires that the report include information on the number of students who met application and other requirements for university admission or enrolled directly in community college within twelve months after high school graduation, but stops short of requiring information on university or other postsecondary program enrollment rates. That information would be useful in determining whether the program should continue, and could also inform future program design and implementation. If that information could be obtained, it would also be useful to identify any factors – local or state supports or barriers, for example – that have contributed to its effect. Staff recommends that the bill be amended to require that the report contain any available information about participants’ university and other postsecondary program enrollment rates, and any state or local factors contributing to the program’s success or failure.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

None on file

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Tanya Lieberman / ED. / (916) 319-2087

Date of Hearing: April 21, 2015

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Jose Medina, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1145

Author:(Medina) – As Introduced Ver:February 27, 2015

[Note: This bill is doubled referred to the Assembly Education Committee and will be heard as it relates to issues under its jurisdiction.]

SUBJECT: Pupils: Early Commitment to College program

SUMMARY: Requires the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), on or before November 1, 2016, to submit specified data from the California Department of Education (CDE) on the Early Commitment to College Program (ECCP) to the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO); and, requires the LAO to submit a report on said data to the Legislature, on or before November 1, 2017. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the SPI, on or before November 1, 2016, to submit to the LAO, CDE data relating to ECCP.

2. Requires the LAO, on or before November 1, 2017, to submit to the Legislature a report relating to the ECCP, that shall include, but not necessarily be limited to all of the following:

1. The number of school districts and pupils participating in ECCP;

2. The number of participating pupils who fulfilled the requirements of the ECCP, as specified in existing law;

3. Any relevant outcome data reported by school districts to the SPI, as specified in existing law; and,

4. The level of technical expertise and guidance provided by the SPI to school districts participating in the ECCP.

3. Requires that the LAO, in preparing the ECCP report, to provide a recommendation on whether the ECCP should be continued.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes the ECCP, with voluntary participation by pupils and school districts, for the purposes of accomplishing all of the following goals:

1. Increase high school completion rates, direct college-going rates, and college preparation of pupils attending schools with the greatest poverty and among low-income pupils in general;

2. Motivate pupils to prepare for college by taking college preparatory coursework, which may include career technical coursework and the course requirements for admission to the University of California and the California State University;

3. Help families understand that college is attainable and affordable, that financial aid is available, and that with the right preparation their children can go to college if they choose to do so;

4. Provide a clear path and direct assistance for pupils through middle schools, high schools, community colleges, universities, and state and federal financial aid programs, thereby improving opportunity and efficiency;

5. Strengthen the state’s historic promise of college access made in the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education and express this commitment directly to middle and high school pupils and their families; and,

6. Prepare the highly skilled workforce necessary to keep California’s economy competitive, maintain the income and quality of life for California residents, increase tax revenues, and provide for improved civic and democratic participation (Education Code Sections 54710 and 54711).

2. Specifies that school districts who choose to participate in the ECCP, shall provide schoolwide college information and college preparation events inclusive of pupils who sign the "Save Me a Spot in College" pledge; defines "College Opportunity Zone" (COZ) to mean the 30 percent of public schools that maintain any of grades 6 to 9, inclusive, with the highest proportion of "low-income pupils" (defined as a pupil who is eligible for free or reduced-price meals); specifies schools not designated as a COZ, are eligible to participate, so long as they give pupils (enrolled in grades 6 to 9, inclusive), who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals and/or their parents or legal guardians, the opportunity to sign the pledge; and, specifies a pupil scheduled to graduate from high school after 2017 shall not be allowed to enroll in the program (EC Section 54711).

3. Requires the SPI to perform, including, but not necessarily limited to, the following responsibilities: a) identify schools as COZ; b) develop the pledge, as specified; and, c) develop a letter addressed to pupils enrolled in grades 6 to 9, inclusive, and their parents and/or legal guardians, and signed by the SPI and superintendent of the school district that describes the major steps to prepare for college and the postsecondary and financial aid opportunities available to students in California; and, d) on or before November 2017, submit a report to the Legislature on the status of the ECCP (EC Sections 54712 and 54715).

4. Sunsets the ECCP on January 1, 2019, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2019, deletes or extends that date (EC 54716).

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown.

COMMENTS: Background on ECCP. Created via SB 890 (Scott), Chapter 472, Statutes of 2008, ECCP was based on two values widely shared by Californians: 1) educational opportunity; and, 2) joint responsibility. According to the Campaign for College Opportunity, the ECCP was a way for California to renew the 1960 Master Plan (that any California student with interest in attending college, could pursue a college education in California), and for the first time, make college directly accessible to students and their families beginning in middle school.

The ECCP was launched in 2009 by the CDE; but due to limited to zero resources given to the CDE to provide the necessary support to the SPI in running the ECCP, Committee staff believes that the ECCP may not have reached its full potential.

Need for the measure. According to the author's office, the ECCP promotes social equity by connecting students who otherwise might not attend college with the necessary tools and resources on how to attend college. The author contends the ECCP benefits the public good, as an educated work force results in long-term cost savings by increased tax revenue from more people going to, and finishing, college.

The author states, "The Early Commitment to College program, if implemented correctly, benefits all residents of California. The goal [of AB 1145] is to inform the creation of a stronger program that connects low-income students to higher education."

To note, Committee staff understands that the SPI may have experienced challenges in meeting the requirements as set forth in SB 890 and being able to produce a report on the ECCP, however, the Legislature still needs a report in order to ascertain if the intent and goals of the ECCP were achieved.

Appropriate entity to complete the report? There is currently no coordinating entity for higher education in California.  The California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) shut down in Fall 2011, and since that time, the state has continuously tasked the LAO, in addition to the numerous reports they provide to the Legislature, with performing many of the tasks that CPEC previously performed. It is presently unclear if the LAO would have the capacity to complete the report required pursuant to this bill. 

Moving forward, the author may wish to consider whether another state research entity, such as the California Research Bureau, has additional capacity to complete this report.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

None on file.

Opposition

None on file.

Analysis Prepared by: Jeanice Warden / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960