Existing law requires a school district or school that is planning to hold a college or career fair to notify each apprenticeship program in the same county as the school district or school of the college or career fair, as specified.

This bill would require a local educational agency serving pupils in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, that is planning to hold a college or career fair to notify each community college district that has overlapping jurisdiction with the local educational agency of the college or career fair, as specified.

Existing law requires a school district or school that is planning to hold a college or career fair to notify each apprenticeship program in the same county as the school district or school of the college or career fair, as specified.

This bill would require a local educational agency serving pupils in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, that is planning to hold a college or career fair to notify each community college district that has overlapping jurisdiction with the local educational agency of the college or career fair, as specified.

Existing law requires a school district or school that is planning to hold a college or career fair to notify each apprenticeship program in the same county as the school district or school of the college or career fair, as specified.

This bill would require a school district or school local educational agency serving pupils in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, that chooses to hold a college or career fair to notify each community college district that has overlapping jurisdiction with the school district or school local educational agency of a college or career fair the school district or school local educational agency is planning to hold, as specified.

Existing law requires a school district or school that is planning to hold a college or career fair to notify each apprenticeship program in the same county as the school district or school of the college or career fair, as specified.

This bill would require a school district or school that chooses to hold a college or career fair to notify each community college district that has overlapping jurisdiction with the school district or school of a college or career fair the school district or school is planning to hold, as specified.

 CONSENT  

Bill No: AB 1173

Author: Ta (R), et al.

Amended: 3/28/23 in Assembly

Vote: 21

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 7-0, 6/7/23

AYES: Newman, Ochoa Bogh, Cortese, Glazer, McGuire, Smallwood-Cuevas, Wilk

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 75-0, 5/4/23 (Consent) - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: College and career fairs

SOURCE: Coast Community College District

DIGEST:

This bill requires a local educational agency (LEA) serving pupils in grades 9 to 12 inclusive, that chooses to hold a college or career fair to notify each community college district (CCD) with overlapping jurisdiction.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Recognizes that all students need to be provided with opportunities to explore and make career choices and to seek appropriate instruction and training to support those choices. Encourages expansion of cooperative activities between schools, youth leadership activities, and community resources. Among community resources of particular significance in providing information on various career opportunities are vocational and occupational exhibits, demonstrations and activities conducted at fairs. (Education Code (EC) 51004)
2. Requires the California Department of Education to annually encourage school districts to plan programs and activities which utilize the resources of fairs and youth leadership activities as an integral part of the vocational instructional program and career decision making. (EC 51005)
3. Requires a school district or school that is planning to hold a college or career fair to notify each apprenticeship program in the same county as the school district or school of the college of the college and career fair. (Labor Code § 3074.2)

This bill:

1. Requires a LEA servicing students in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, that chooses to hold a college or career fair to notify each CCD that has overlapping jurisdiction with the LEA of the college or career fair and provide an opportunity for the CCD to participate in the college or career fair.
2. Requires that the notice provided be delivered by first class mail or email before the planned date and that it includes both of the following:
   1. The planned date and time of the college or career fair.
   2. The planned location of the college or career fair.
3. Defines various terms for purposes of this bill.

Comments

1. Need for the bill. According to the author, “Overall enrollment at California Community Colleges (CCC’s) has been in decline, a situation that has been exacerbated during the coronavirus pandemic. In recognition of declining enrollment, the state and federal governments have made funding available for student recruitment and retention at community colleges.

“Community colleges are able to recruit students in a number of different ways, including through online advertising, social media, traditional media, and in-person recruitment at local high schools. In-person recruitment at high school college fairs provides community college representatives an opportunity to directly communicate with potential students and provide them information on the academic, extracurricular, and community elements of campus life, as well as answer any specific questions that students may have.”

1. Similar requirement for apprenticeship programs. Current law requires notification be given to apprenticeship programs when a college or career fair is held by a school or school district in the same county. This bill’s provisions are similar to those outlined in current law for apprenticeship programs.
2. California Community Colleges. CCCs are designated to have an open admission policy and bear the most extensive responsibility for lower-division undergraduate instruction. The system is California’s largest workforce training provider and offers an affordable pathway to four-year University. Its three primary areas of mission include education leading to associates degrees and university transfer, career technical education, and basic skills. The system is composed of 73 community college districts and 116 colleges, and 47 percent of students do not pay enrollment fees. The community college system is one of three within California’s public higher education system that also includes the California State University and University of California. This bill is specific to CCCs.

Related/Prior Legislation

SB 332 (Cortese, 2023) requires the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) to evaluate the effectiveness of the requirement that a school notify each apprenticeship program in the same county of a career or college fair it is planning to hold. Also requires the DIR to submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2025, with the results of the evaluation as well as recommendations on how to improve outreach to high school students regarding pre-apprenticeship opportunities.

SB 1080 (Min, 2022) was substantially similar to this bill. It was held in the Assembly Education Committee.

AB 643 (Ramos, Chapter 324, Statutes of 2021) required LEAs planning to hold a college or career fair to notify each apprenticeship program in the same county.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 6/8/23)

Coast Community College District (source)

Citrus College

Mt. San Antonio College

North Orange Community College District

Rancho Santiago Community College District

OPPOSITION: (Verified 6/8/23)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 75-0, 5/4/23

AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Juan Carrillo, Wendy Carrillo, Cervantes, Chen, Connolly, Megan Dahle, Davies, Dixon, Essayli, Mike Fong, Vince Fong, Friedman, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Grayson, Haney, Hart, Holden, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Lackey, Lee, Low, Lowenthal, Maienschein, Mathis, McCarty, Stephanie Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Jim Patterson, Joe Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Reyes, Luz Rivas, Robert Rivas, Rodriguez, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Santiago, Schiavo, Soria, Ta, Ting, Valencia, Villapudua, Waldron, Ward, Weber, Wilson, Wood, Zbur, Rendon

NO VOTE RECORDED: Flora, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Wallis, Wicks

Prepared by: Olgalilia Ramirez / ED. / (916) 651-4105

6/9/23 9:49:11

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Senator Josh Newman, Chair

2023 - 2024 Regular

Bill No: AB 1173 Hearing Date: June 7, 2023

Subject: College and career fairs.

SUMMARY

This bill requires a local educational agency (LEA) serving pupils in grades 9 to 12 inclusive, that chooses to hold a college or career fair to notify each community college district (CCD) with overlapping jurisdiction.

BACKGROUND

Existing law:

1. Recognizes that all students need to be provided with opportunities to explore and make career choices and to seek appropriate instruction and training to support those choices. Encourages expansion of cooperative activities between schools, youth leadership activities, and community resources. Among community resources of particular significance in providing information on various career opportunities are vocational and occupational exhibits, demonstrations and activities conducted at fairs. (Education Code (EC) 51004)
2. Requires the California Department of Education to annually encourage school districts to plan programs and activities which utilize the resources of fairs and youth leadership activities as an integral part of the vocational instructional program and career decision making. (EC 51005)
3. Requires a school district or school that is planning to hold a college or career fair to notify each apprenticeship program in the same county as the school district or school of the college of the college and career fair. (Labor Code § 3074.2)

ANALYSIS

This bill:

1. Requires a LEA servicing students in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, that chooses to hold a college or career fair to notify each CCD that has overlapping jurisdiction with the LEA of the college or career fair and provide an opportunity for the CCD to participate in the college or career fair.
2. Requires that the notice provided be delivered by first class mail or email before the planned date and that it includes both of the following:

a) The planned date and time of the college or career fair.

b) The planned location of the college or career fair.

1. Defines various terms for purposes of the bill.

STAFF COMMENTS

1. Need for the bill. According to the author, “Overall enrollment at California Community Colleges (CCC’s) has been in decline, a situation that has been exacerbated during the coronavirus pandemic. In recognition of declining enrollment, the state and federal governments have made funding available for student recruitment and retention at community colleges.

Community colleges are able to recruit students in a number of different ways, including through online advertising, social media, traditional media, and in-person recruitment at local high schools. In-person recruitment at high school college fairs provides community college representatives an opportunity to directly communicate with potential students and provide them information on the academic, extracurricular, and community elements of campus life, as well as answer any specific questions that students may have.”

1. Similar requirement for apprenticeship programs. Current law requires notification be given to apprenticeship programs when a college or career fair is held by a school or school district in the same county. This bill’s provisions are similar to those outlined in current law for apprenticeship programs.

1. California Community Colleges. CCCs are designated to have an open admission policy and bear the most extensive responsibility for lower-division undergraduate instruction. The system is California’s largest workforce training provider and offers an affordable pathway to four-year University. Its three primary areas of mission include education leading to associates degrees and university transfer, career technical education, and basic skills. The system is composed of 73 community college districts and 116 colleges, and 47 percent of students do not pay enrollment fees. The community college system is one of three within California’s public higher education system that also includes the California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC). This bill is specific to CCCs. Should the bill be expanded to include notification to CSU and UC campuses?
2. Prior and related legislation

SB 332 (Cortese, 2023) requires the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) to evaluate the effectiveness of the requirement that a school notify each apprenticeship program in the same county of a career or college fair it is planning to hold. Also requires the DIR to submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2025 with the results of the evaluation as well as recommendations on how to improve outreach to high school students regarding pre-apprenticeship opportunities.

SB 1080 (Min, 2022) was substantially similar to this bill. It was held in the Assembly Education Committee.

AB 643 (Ramos, Chapter 324, Statutes of 2021) requires LEAs planning to hold a college or career fair to notify each apprenticeship program in the same county.

SUPPORT

None received

OPPOSITION

None received

-- END --

Date of Hearing: April 25, 2023

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Mike Fong, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1173 (

Author:Ta) – As Amended Ver:March 28, 2023

SUBJECT: College and career fairs.

SUMMARY: Requires a local educational agency (LEA) serving pupils in grades 9 to 12 inclusive, that chooses to hold a college or career fair to notify each community college district (CCD) with overlapping jurisdiction. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires LEAs holding a college or career fair to notify each CCD with overlapping jurisdiction with the LEA, and provide an opportunity for the CCD to participate in the college or career fair.
2. Requires the notice, pursuant to (1) above, to include the planned date, time, and planned location of the college or career fair.
3. Requires the notice, pursuant to (1) above, to be delivered to the CCD prior to the planned date of the college or career fair by first-class mail or by email.
4. Defines the following terms for purposes of this section:
   1. “Career fair” means an event where multiple private businesses, governmental agencies, university representatives, or career technical school representatives are invited by a LEA to present career options or career technical education options to pupils;
   2. “College fair” means an event where multiple college or university representatives are invited by a LEA to present college options to pupils; and,
   3. “LEA” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes the California Community Colleges (CCC), a postsecondary education system in this state, under the administration of the Board of Governors and specifies that the CCC consist of community college districts (CCDs).

Establishes the mission and function of the CCC, which, in part is to: 1) offer academic and vocational instruction at the lower division level for both younger and older students, including those persons returning to school; 2) authorizes the CCC to grant the associate in arts and the associate in science degrees; 3) requires the CCC to offer English as a Second Language instruction, adult noncredit instruction, and support services which help students succeed at the postsecondary level; and, 4) advance California’s economic growth and global competitiveness through education, training, and services that contribute to continuous work force improvement (Education Code (EC) Sections 66010.4 and 70900).

1. Recognizes that all students need to be provided with opportunities to explore and make career choices and to seek appropriate instruction and training to support those choices. Encourages expansion of cooperative activities between schools, youth leadership activities, and community resources. Among community resources of particular significance in providing information on various career opportunities are vocational and occupational exhibits, demonstrations and activities conducted at fairs (EC Section 51004).
2. Requires the California Department of Education to annually encourage school districts to plan programs and activities which utilize the resources of fairs and youth leadership activities as an integral part of the vocational instructional program and career decision making (EC Section 51005).
3. Defines “career fair” to mean an event where multiple private businesses, government agencies, university representatives, or career technical school representatives are invited by a school or school district to present career options or career technical education options for students.

Defines “college fair” to mean an event where multiple college or university representatives are invited by a school or school district to present college options to students.

Defines “school” to mean public schools, including, but not limited to, charter schools and alternative schools.

Stipulates that a school district or school that is planning to hold a college or career fair must notify each apprenticeship program in the same county as the school district or school of the college or career fair. In determining the county location of an apprenticeship program, the school district or school shall rely on the database of approved apprenticeship programs published by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) on its internet website. The notification shall include both of the following:

• 1. The planned date and time of the college fair or career fair; and,
  2. The planned location of the college fair or career fair.

Requires that the notice must be delivered before the planned date of the college or career fair either by first-class mail or by electronic mail pursuant to the contact information contained in the database of approved apprenticeship programs published by the DAS on its internet website (Labor Code Section 3074.2).

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown. This measure is keyed non-fiscal by the Office of Legislative Counsel.

COMMENTS: Double referral. This measure was heard in the Assembly Committee on Education, where it passed with a 7-0 vote on March 22, 2023. Issues germane to the Education Committee’s jurisdiction are referenced in that Committee’s analysis.

Purpose of the measure. According to the author, “community colleges are able to recruit students in a number of different ways, including through online advertising, social media, traditional media, and in-person recruitment at local high schools. In-person recruitment at high school college fairs provides community college representatives an opportunity to directly communicate with potential students and provide them information on the academic, extracurricular, and community elements of campus life, as well as answer any specific questions that students may have.”

The author states that, “AB 1173 would ultimately help high schools students learn about the CCC which overall is a much cheaper option compared to CSUs [California State University], UCs [University of California], or a private institution for a student to complete their undergraduate education and to prepare them to transfer.”

California’s community colleges. The CCC is the largest higher education system in the nation, arguably, the world. Comprised of 73 CCDs, the CCC has 115 brick and mortar campuses and one fully online campus. Currently, the CCC educates over 1.8 million students.

AB 19 (Santiago, et al.), Chapter 735, Statutes of 2017, established the California College Promise Program, which authorizes but does not require CCCs to waive fees for first-time, full-time students without financial need for their first year of college. To be eligible for these waivers, students must have no prior postsecondary coursework, enroll in 12 or more units per semester, and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a California Dream Act Application (CADAA).

Having a second year of CCCs ability to waive fees a for first-time, full-time students transpired in the Budget Act of 2019. AB 74 (Ting), Chapter 23, Statutes of 2019, allocated over $42.5 million to support extending the California College Promise Program to a second academic year (in addition to $42.5 million to support the first academic year). The higher education budget trailer bill, SB 77 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review), Chapter 53, Statutes of 2019, included the statutory changes necessary to expand the California College Promise Program for a second academic year.

Many refer to the aforementioned program as “free” community college.

Additionally, the CCC Associate in Art for Transfer (AA-T) and the Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T) degrees are two-year associate degrees that are fully transferable to the CSU and are no more than 60 semester units or 90 quarter units. With these Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT) - sometimes called a Degree with a Guarantee - students who meet the CSU’s minimum eligibility requirements are guaranteed priority admission to a CSU campus, though not necessarily to a particular campus or major.​

With an ADT, students are able to earn two degrees - their associate’s degree and their bachelor’s degree - with only 120 units if students transfer into a program at the CSU that is similar to the one in which they earned their associate’s at a CCC.

Students who choose to pursue an ADT and are in the California College Program have the potential to save significant costs of earning their degrees. However, if high school pupils are not made aware of the viable option of beginning their college experiences at a CCC during career fairs, they may miss an opportunity to learn about the CCC, which could be the best choice for them.

Arguments in support. According to Coast Community College District (CCCD), sponsors of this measure, “increasingly, community college recruitment representatives are prevented from participating in college fairs that occur on high school campuses, particularly early in the college application process. Often, community college representatives are only allowed to meet directly with students after the application and acceptance notifications from four-year institutions are released. High school students should be made aware of all options that are academically and financially available to them. High school campuses hosting college fairs should provide equal access for community colleges and four-year institutions alike.”

Further, the CCCD states that, “this bill seeks to create an additional avenue to bolster high school student awareness of community college opportunities, thereby boosting enrollment and community college services to California’s students. The state and federal governments have made funding available for student recruitment and retention at community colleges in recognition of declining enrollment, a situation exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Related legislation. SB 332 (Cortese) of the current Legislative Session, which is pending action by the Senate Committee on Appropriations, in part, requires the Department of Industrial Relations to evaluate the effectiveness of the requirement that a school notify each apprenticeship program in the same county of a career or college fair it is planning to hold.

Prior legislation. SB 1080 (Min) of the 2021-2022 Session, which was held in the Assembly Committee on Education, was substantially similar to this this measure.

AB 643 (Ramos) Chapter 324, Statutes of 2021, requires LEAs planning to hold a college or career fair to notify each apprenticeship program in the same county of the date and location of the fair.

AB 1558 (Ramos) of the 2019-2020 Session, which was vetoed by the Governor, was virtually identical to AB 643 (Ramos), as described above.

Governor Newsom’s vetoed message stated that, “this bill requires local school districts or schools that are planning college or career fairs to notify each apprenticeship program in their county, utilizing information from the database of approved apprenticeship programs published by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards. Many schools and school districts already include apprenticeship programs as part of their career fair outreach. While the intentions of this bill are commendable, this bill could result in additional costs to schools, which are already under significant financial stress.”

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Coast Community College District (Sponsor)
Citrus College
Mt. San Antonio College
North Orange Community College District
Rancho Santiago Community College District

Opposition

None on file.

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

Date of Hearing: March 22, 2023

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Al Muratsuchi, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1173 (

Author:Ta) – As Introduced Ver:February 16, 2023

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

SUBJECT: College and career fairs

SUMMARY: Requires school districts or schools holding a college or career fair to notify each community college district with overlapping jurisdiction. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires school districts or schools holding a college or career fair to notify each community college district with overlapping jurisdiction with the school or school district, and provide an opportunity for the community college to participate in the college or career fair.
2. Requires the notice to include the planned date, time, and location of the college or career fair.
3. Requires the notice to be delivered to the community college district prior to the planned date of the college or career fair by first-class mail or by email.
4. Defines the following terms for purposes of this section:
   1. “Career fair” means an event where multiple private businesses, governmental agencies, university representatives, or career technical school representatives are invited by a school district or school to present career options or career technical education options to students;
   2. “College fair” means an event where multiple college or university representatives are invited by a school district or school to present college options to pupils; and
   3. “School” means a public school, including, but not limited to, a charter school or an alternative school.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Requires a school district or school that is planning to hold a college or career fair to notify each apprenticeship program in the same county as the school district or school of the college and career fair. (Labor Code 3074.2)
2. Recognizes that all students need to be provided with opportunities to explore and make career choices and to seek appropriate instruction and training to support those choices. Encourages expansion of cooperative activities between schools, youth leadership activities, and community resources. Among community resources of particular significance in providing information on various career opportunities are vocational and occupational exhibits, demonstrations and activities conducted at fairs. (Education Code (EC) 51004)
3. Requires the California Department of Education to annually encourage school districts to plan programs and activities which utilize the resources of fairs and youth leadership activities as an integral part of the vocational instructional program and career decision making. (EC 51005)

FISCAL EFFECT: This bill has been keyed non-fiscal by the Office of Legislative Counsel.

COMMENTS:

Need for the bill. According to the author, “Overall enrollment at California Community Colleges (CCC’s) has been in decline, a situation that has been exacerbated during the coronavirus pandemic. In recognition of declining enrollment, the state and federal governments have made funding available for student recruitment and retention at community colleges.

Community colleges are able to recruit students in a number of different ways, including through online advertising, social media, traditional media, and in-person recruitment at local high schools. In-person recruitment at high school college fairs provides community college representatives an opportunity to directly communicate with potential students and provide them information on the academic, extracurricular, and community elements of campus life, as well as answer any specific questions that students may have.”

Similar requirement for apprenticeship programs. Current law requires notification be given to apprenticeship programs when a college or career fair is held by a school or school district in the same county. This bill’s provision largely mirror requirements outlined in current law for apprenticeship programs.

Arguments in support. The Coast Community College District, sponsor of the bill, notes “Increasingly, community college recruitment representatives are prevented from participating in college fairs that occur on high school campuses, particularly early in the college application process. Often community college representatives are only allowed to meet directly with students after the application and acceptance notifications from 4-year institutions are released. High school students should be made aware of all options that are academically and financially available to them. High school campuses hosting college fairs should provide equal access for community colleges and 4-year institutions alike.”

Recommended committee amendments. Committee staff recommend that the bill be amended as follows:

1. Replace references to “schools” and “school districts” with “local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools, maintaining any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive”.

Related legislation. SB 332 (Cortese) of the 2023-24 Session requires the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) to evaluate the effectiveness of the requirement that a school notify each apprenticeship program in the same county of a career or college fair it is planning to hold. Also requires the DIR to submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2025 with the results of the evaluation as well as recommendations on how to improve outreach to high school students regarding pre-apprenticeship opportunities.

SB 1080 (Min) of the 2021-22 Session was substantially similar to this bill. It was held in the Assembly Education Committee.

AB 643 (Ramos) Chapter 324, Statutes of 2021 requires LEAs planning to hold a college or career fair to notify each apprenticeship program in the same county.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Coast Community College District

North Orange Community College District

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Debbie Look / ED. / (916) 319-2087