BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION Senator Carol Liu, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Bill No: SR 77 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Author: | Fuller | |-----------+-----------------------------------------------------| |Version: | May 16, 2016 Hearing | | |Date: June 8, 2016 | ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Urgency: | No |Fiscal: | No | ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Consultant:| Kathleen Chavira | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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: SR 77 (Fuller) Page 2 of ? 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 -- SR 77 (Fuller) Page 3 of ?