BILL NUMBER: AB 1145	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Medina

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2015

   An act to amend Section 54715 of, and to add Section 54715.5 to,
the Education Code, relating to pupils.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1145, as introduced, Medina. Pupils: Early Commitment to
College program.
   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 Analyst's Office on or before
November 1, 2016. The Legislative Analyst's 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.
   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.  Section 54715 of the Education Code is amended to read:

   54715.  On or before November 1,  2017,  
2016,  the Superintendent shall submit to the 
Legislature a report on the status of   Legislative
Analyst's Office data relating to  the program, including, but
not  necessarily  limited to, the following information:
   (a) The number of school districts and pupils participating in the
program.
   (b) The number of participating pupils who fulfilled the
requirements of the pledge pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section
54711.
   (c) Any relevant outcome data reported by school districts to the
Superintendent pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 54711. 

   As part of this report, the Superintendent shall provide a
recommendation on whether the program should be continued. 
  SEC. 2.  Section 54715.5 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   54715.5.  (a) On or before November 1, 2017, the Legislative
Analyst's Office shall submit to the Legislature a report relating to
the program. This report shall include, but not necessarily be
limited to, all of the following information:
   (1) The number of school districts and pupils participating in the
program.
   (2) The number of participating pupils who fulfilled the
requirements of the pledge pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section
54711.
   (3) Any relevant outcome data reported by school districts to the
Superintendent pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 54711.
   (4) The level of technical expertise and guidance provided by the
Superintendent to school districts participating in the program.
   (b) As part of the report required by this section, the
Legislative Analyst's Office shall provide a recommendation on
whether the program should be continued.