BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Alan Lowenthal, Chair
2011-2012 Regular Session
BILL NO: AB 194
AUTHOR: Beall
AMENDED: May 31, 2011
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: June 8, 2011
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Leticia Garcia
Lynn Lorber
SUBJECT : Public postsecondary education: priority
enrollment for foster youth.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the California State University and each
community college district, and requests the University of
California to grant priority enrollment for registration to
any foster youth or former foster youth.
BACKGROUND
Current law requires the California State University and
each community college district, and requests the
University of California to give priority for registration
for enrollment to any member the Armed Services for any
academic term attended at one of these institutions within
two years of leaving active duty, if the institution
already administers a priority enrollment system.
(Education Code § 66025.8)
ANALYSIS
This bill requires the California State University (CSU)
and each community college district (CCC), and requests the
University of California (UC) to grant priority enrollment
for registration to any foster youth or former foster
youth. Specifically, this bill:
1) Requires the CSU and each community college district,
and requests the UC, by appropriate resolution, to
grant priority in the system for registration for
enrollment to any foster youth or former foster youth.
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2) Defines "foster youth" to mean any person who is
currently in foster care, and "former foster youth" to
mean any person who is an emancipated foster youth and
who is up to 24 years of age.
3) Declares this act imposes a state mandate on CCC
districts that is reimbursable by the state.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill. According to the author, "former
foster youth face significant barriers to accessing
higher education. The challenges start early on, as
multiple foster care placements make it difficult for
them to achieve stability in their education. In fact,
70% of youth in foster care desire to go to college,
however, 20% actually do attend college and only two
to three percent graduate with a four-year degree."
2) Existing educational resources in higher education.
a) California Community College (CCC) Tuition
Assistance. The CCCs provide virtually free
tuition to former foster youth.
b) CCCs Foster Youth Success Initiative.
Assists foster youth by connecting students with
support services and financial aid to achieve
educational goals.
c) Chafee Educational and Training Vouchers
Program. This program offers up to $5,000 per
year to former foster youth under age 22 for
post- secondary training.
d) Guardian Scholars Programs. Available on
many CCC and California State University
campuses, these programs offer housing, tuition,
and academic support to former foster youth.
e) Other Campus-Specific Supports. Some state
college campuses have designed local programs to
support former foster youth with comprehensive
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support services from ensuring admission and
retention to academic and personal counseling.
3) What is priority registration enrollment ? Students
who have priority enrollment registration status have
an advantage to select their classes before "open
registration" begins for the general student body.
Campuses have full discretion locally in how priority
is assigned. Each campus may designate certain
student groups with such priority registration such as
athletes.
4) Is this bill necessary ? Some foster youth may
currently have priority enrollment for registration
status as a student of the Extended Opportunity
Programs and Services (a program designed for
low-income, underprepared students who are attending
CCC full-time). However, this program has been
greatly impacted due to budget reductions.
5) Fiscal impact . According to the Assembly
Appropriations Committee analysis, CSU indicates minor
one-time information technology costs for 15 campuses
to implement priority registration for foster youth.
(The remaining eight CSU campuses already provide such
priority registration.)
UC and CCC campuses would incur minor absorbable costs
to implement the priority registration. Further, to
the extent providing priority registration for classes
increases the success rate of these students, there
could be state and local savings for services that
might otherwise be provided to foster youth and former
foster youth.
6) Related legislation . AB 649 (Harkey) extends the
period of time for priority class registration
enrollment, from two years to five years, to members
or former members of the Armed Services and requires
that any member or former member of the Armed Services
be a California resident. AB 649 is scheduled to be
heard in this Committee on June 8, 2011.
SB 813 (Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs) extends
the period of time, from two years to four years, that
a former member of the Armed Forces can receive
priority registration enrollment at the California
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State University and the California Community
Colleges. The bill requests that the University of
California comply with priority enrollment as
specified in this measure. SB 813 is pending in the
Assembly Higher Education Committee.
SUPPORT
American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees
Aspiranet
California Community Colleges, Chancellor's Office
California Federation of Teachers
California State Association of Counties
California State PTA
California State University, Office of the Chancellor
City of San Francisco
Community College League of California
County of San Francisco
County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors
The Advancement Project
University of California
OPPOSITION
None on file.