BILL NUMBER: AB 1008	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 13, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Block

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2009

    An act relating to community colleges.   An
act to add Section 78217 to the Education Code, relating to community
colleges. 



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1008, as amended, Block. Community colleges: 
matriculation.   student assessment. 
   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, known as the
Seymour-Campbell Matriculation Act of 1986, defines "matriculation"
as a process that brings a college and a student who enrolls for
credit into an agreement for the purpose of realizing the student's
educational objectives. The act specifies the matriculation services
that community colleges are required to provide, including the
processing of the application for admission, orientation and
preorientation services, assessment and counseling upon enrollment,
and postenrollment evaluation of a student's progress. 

   This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation to require that the California Community Colleges
evaluate its basic skills offerings and assess the extent to which
these courses are meeting the needs of students in progressing toward
successful completion of their educational objectives. 

   Existing law requires the board to implement matriculation
services in as many community colleges as funds appropriated for that
purpose allow. Among the matriculation services to be provided is
the assessment and counseling of students upon enrollment. Under
existing law, assessment includes the administration of assessment
tests to determine competency in certain skill areas, identification
of aptitudes, and evaluation of study and learning skills, among
other things.  
   Existing law prohibits a district or college from using an
assessment instrument without authorization of the board and requires
the board to establish an advisory committee to review and make
recommendations concerning all assessment instruments used by the
districts and colleges. Existing law provides that these requirements
are only operative if funds are specifically appropriated for these
purposes.  
   This bill would require the board to convene a working group
including representatives of the Legislative Analyst's Office, the
Academic Senate for California Community Colleges, and the California
Community Colleges Consultation Council to make findings and
recommendations regarding assessments that can be utilized to test
basic skills of students entering community college. The bill would
require the working group to present its findings to the Legislature
and Governor on or before July 1, 2010. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION. 1.    Section 78217 is added to the 
 Education Code   , to read:  
   78217.  (a) The Board of Governors of the California Community
Colleges shall convene a working group that includes, but is not
limited to, representatives of the Legislative Analyst's Office, the
California Community Colleges Consultation Council, and the Academic
Senate for California Community Colleges, to make findings and
recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor regarding
statewide assessments that can be utilized to test the basic skills
of students as they enter the community college system.
   (b) The working group shall present its findings and
recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor on or before July
1, 2010.  
  SECTION 1.    It is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation to amend Section 78212 of the Education Code to
require the California Community Colleges to evaluate its basic
skills offerings and assess the extent to which these courses are
meeting the needs of students in progressing toward successful
completion of their educational objectives.