BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



          SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
                              Senator Carol Liu, Chair
                                2015 - 2016  Regular 

          Bill No:              SR 77               
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          |Author:    | Fuller                                              |
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          |Version:   | May 16, 2016                               Hearing  |
          |           |Date:    June 8, 2016                                |
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          |Urgency:   | No                     |Fiscal:    | No             |
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          |Consultant:| Kathleen Chavira                                    |
          |           |                                                     |
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          Subject:  postsecondary education


            SUMMARY
          
          This resolution recognizes the month of June 2016 as Higher  
          Education Month.

            BACKGROUND
          
          Existing law establishes public higher education as consisting  
          of the California Community Colleges, the California State  
          University and the University of California, and recognizes  
          independent institutions of higher education as those nonpublic  
          higher education institutions that grant undergraduate degrees,  
          graduate degrees, or both, and that are formed as nonprofit  
          corporations in the state and are accredited by an agency  
          recognized by the United States Department of Education.   
          (Education Code § 66010)

          Existing law also declares it a goal of public higher education  
          that educational equity be achieved through educational  
          environments in which each person, regardless of race, gender,  
          age, disability or economic circumstances has a reasonable  
          chance to fully develop his or her potential. (EC § 66010.2)

            ANALYSIS
          
          This resolution:








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          1)   Makes findings regarding the importance of higher education  
               for economic competitiveness, reaching the middleclass, and  
               the increase in earnings, taxes paid and reduced reliance  
               on government services for individuals who attain higher  
               education degrees.

          2)   Makes findings regarding the importance of encouraging  
               students to pursue educational goals at all levels for  
               purposes of California's future economy.

          3)   Makes findings regarding California's lag behind other  
               states in college attendance and graduation.

          4)   Makes findings regarding the National Day Calendar  
               registrar's declaration of June 6th as National Higher  
               Education Day.

          5)   Resolves that the Senate recognize the month of June 2016  
               as higher Education Month.

          STAFF COMMENTS
          
          History.  National Higher Education Day was submitted to the  
          National Day Calendar  in February 2015.  The registrar at  
          National Day Calendar declared National Higher Education Day to  
          be observed annually on June 6th.  This resolution would declare  
          June 2016 as Higher Education Month.  According to the author,  
          this resolution is important because the economic  
          competitiveness of California requires a well-educated  
          workforce.  Encouraging students of all ages pursuing their  
          educational goals at all levels will help prepare the next  
          generation of college students who will be the driving force of  
          California's future economy.  

            SUPPORT
          
          None received. 

            OPPOSITION
           
           None received.
                                      -- END --
          









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