BILL NUMBER: SB 890 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 1, 2007
INTRODUCED BY Senator Scott
(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Portantino)
( Coauthor: Senator Alquist
)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Berryhill and Torrico)
FEBRUARY 23, 2007
An act to add and repeal Article 6.3 (commencing with
Section 54710) to of Chapter 9 of Part
29 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, relating to
pupils.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 890, as amended, Scott. Pupils: early college commitment
program.
Existing law requires a school district maintaining any of grades
7 to 12, inclusive, to offer to all otherwise qualified pupils in
those grades a course of study fulfilling the requirements and
prerequisites for admission to the California public institutions of
postsecondary education and to provide a timely opportunity to each
of those pupils to enroll within a 4-year period in each course
necessary to fulfill those requirements and prerequisites.
Existing law authorizes a school district to apply to establish a
University and College Opportunities Program with existing local or
categorical funds. The program plan developed by a school district or
school is required to include, among other things, college
counseling to assist pupils in preparing application forms for
college admission, to procure scholarships , and
other financial aid, and to meet all deadlines for these programs.
This bill would establish , until January 1, 2014, the
early college commitment program. Participation by school districts
in the program would be voluntary. The bill would require the
Superintendent of Public Instruction, among other program duties, to
designate the 30% of school districts that operate middle and high
schools with the highest proportion of low-income pupils, as defined,
as college opportunity zones. A participating
school district that is identified
designated as a college opportunity zone by the
Superintendent would be required to give all pupils enrolled in
grades 6 to 9, inclusive, and their parent or legal guardian, the
opportunity to sign "Save Me a Spot in College" pledge cards
developed by the Superintendent. Other participating school
districts Schools not designated as a college
opportunity zone would be required to give pupils who are
eligible for free and reduced-price meals and are enrolled in grades
6 to 9, inclusive, and their parent or legal guardian, and all
foster youth and the appropriate adult responsible for that foster
youth, the opportunity to sign a pledge card and would
be authorized to give any pupil enrolled in grades 6 to 9,
inclusive, and their parent or legal guardian, the opportunity to
sign a pledge card . The bill would require participating
school districts to provide college information and college
preparation events targeted towards pupils who sign pledge cards.
The bill would provide that a pupil who signs a pledge card
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 rigorous college preparatory
or career technical challenging coursework,
complete and file a free application for federal student aid and
submit their his or her grade point
average to the Student Aid Commission by March 2 of their
his or her senior year.
The bill would encourage the California Community Colleges, the
University of California, the California State University,
independent colleges, the California Student Opportunity and Access
Program, the Student Aid Commission, and other nonprofit, business,
or other community organizations to provide support services as
needed in coordination with local school districts.
The bill would require the Superintendent to submit a report to
the Legislature, on or before November 1, 2012, evaluating the early
college commitment program and recommending 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. It is the intent of the Legislature to establish a
program to ensure early notification and early commitment of college
opportunities for pupils in middle school and high school and their
families. It is the intent of the Legislature that the program
motivate pupils to stay in school, graduate from high school, take
rigorous coursework, and, if they choose to do so, seek postsecondary
opportunities.
SEC. 2. Article 6.3 (commencing with Section 54710) is added to
Chapter 9 of Part 29 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code,
to read:
Article 6.3. Early College Commitment Program
54710. The early college commitment program is hereby established
for the purpose of accomplishing all of the following goals:
(a) Increase high school completion rates, direct college-going
rates, and college preparation of pupils attending schools with the
greatest poverty and among low-income pupils in general.
(b) Motivate pupils to prepare for college by taking
rigorous challenging college
preparatory coursework or rigorous career technical coursework,
depending on their interests in pursuing direct
coursework, which may include college preparatory and career
technical classes, depending on their interest in pursuing direct
university admission or specific technical education programs
in community college.
(c) Help families understand that college is attainable and
affordable, that financial aid is available, and that with the right
preparation their children can go to college if they choose to do so.
(d) Provide a clear path for pupils through middle schools, high
schools, community colleges, universities, and state and federal
financial aid programs, thereby improving opportunity and efficiency.
(e) Strengthen the state's historic promise of college access made
in the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education and express this
commitment directly to middle and high school pupils and their
families.
(f) Prepare the highly skilled workforce necessary to keep
California's economy competitive, maintain the income and quality of
life for California residents, increase tax revenues, and provide for
improved civic and democratic participation.
54711. (a) Participation by school districts in the early college
commitment program is voluntary. A school district that chooses to
participate in the program is encouraged to do so districtwide, with
all schools in the district participating, and shall provide
schoolwide college information and college preparation events
targeted towards pupils who sign "Save Me a Spot in College" pledge
cards.
(1) A participating school district that is identified as a
college opportunity zone district
(1) Schools designated as a college
opportunity zone, in a participating school district, shall
give all pupils enrolled in grades 6 to 9, inclusive, and their
parent or legal guardian, or the appropriate person in the case of
foster youth, the opportunity to sign a "Save Me a Spot in College"
pledge card.
(2) Other participating school districts shall give pupils who are
eligible for free and reduced-price meals and are enrolled in grades
6 to 9, inclusive, and their parent or legal guardian, or the
appropriate person in the case of foster youth, the opportunity to
sign a "Save Me a Spot in College" pledge card and may give any pupil
enrolled in grades 6 to 9, inclusive, and their parent or legal
guardian, or the appropriate person in the case of foster youth, the
opportunity to sign a "Save Me a Spot in College" pledge card.
(2) Schools not designated as a college opportunity zone, in a
participating school district, shall give a pupil who is eligible for
free and reduced-price meals and is enrolled in grades 6 to 9,
inclusive, and his or her parent or legal guardian, and all foster
youth and the appropriate adult responsible for that foster youth,
the opportunity to sign a "Save Me a Spot in College" pledge card.
(b) A participating school district shall record data and track
pupils who enroll in the program in their existing pupil records and
provide necessary reports to the Superintendent to monitor and
evaluate the program.
54712. The Superintendent shall perform the following
responsibilities:
(a) Identify school districts as college opportunity zones. In
determining which school districts shall be identified as college
opportunity zones, the Superintendent shall designate the 30 percent
of school districts that operate middle and high schools with the
highest proportion of low-income pupils. For purposes of this
subdivision, a low-income pupil is a pupil who is eligible for free
or reduced-price meals.
(b) Develop the "Save Me a Spot in College" pledge card.
(c) Develop the letter and information materials about the program
and college opportunities to be mailed to all school districts and
accredited private and independent schools that maintain any of
grades 6 to 9, inclusive.
(d) Consult with the California Community Colleges, the University
of California, the California State University, the Student Aid
Commission, and independent colleges and universities in developing
the pledge, letter, and supporting materials.
(e) Determine the form of special recognition pupils who meet the
requirements of the pledge will receive at the time of high school
graduation.
(f) Develop a method to collect data from participating school
districts to track enrolled pupils and evaluate the effectiveness of
the program.
54713. (a) A pupil who signs a pledge card declares a commitment
to prepare for college, finish high school, and enroll in college and
commits to do all of the following:
(1) Meet all graduation requirements to finish high school in
California.
(2) Take rigorous challenging
college preparatory or career technical coursework.
(3) Seek proficiency in mathematics and in reading and writing in
English.
(4) 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.
(5) Meet application and other requirements for university
admission or enroll directly in community college soon after high
school graduation.
(b) At the time of enrollment, each pupil shall receive a
certificate of participation in the early college commitment program,
with his or her name, and bearing the signature of the
Superintendent and the Governor.
(c) Participating pupils shall also to
also shall receive a booklet of college information providing
more specific information about eligibility requirements, preparation
steps, and other pertinent information. School districts shall
provide information and services, through existing programs, to the
pupils who sign pledge cards through their middle school and high
school years. These "Roadmap to College" services shall include
all of the following:
(1) Transcript review and academics assessment, leading to
course planning for the pupil at the time of enrollment in the early
college commitment program and annual reporting to the pupil on how
he or she is doing relative to state standards and other benchmarks.
(2) Information about the Golden State Scholarshare College
Savings Trust (Article 19 (commencing with Section 69980) of Chapter
2 of Part 42 of Division 5 of Title 3) at the time of enrollment.
(3) A visit to at least one community college, including, but
not limited to, exposure to career technical and transfer programs,
and at least one four-year college.
(4) Information on college admissions tests in grade 11.
(5) Information on college admission and community college
enrollment steps in grade 12.
(6) Information on the financial aid application process,
including, but not limited to, the free application for federal
student aid, in grade 12.
(d) Pupils enrolled in early college commitment program who meet
their pledge will be eligible to continue their postsecondary
education at a California community college to pursue career
technical education or a degree, or to transfer to a four-year
university, or, if they meet the admission requirements and apply for
admission, at the University of California or the California State
University. Pupils who are eligible and demonstrate financial need,
as determined pursuant to the free application for federal student
aid, to help cover the costs of fees, books, supplies,
transportation, and living expenses at postsecondary institutions
will receive financial aid.
54714. The Legislature encourages the California Community
Colleges, the University of California, the California State
University, independent colleges, the California Student Opportunity
and Access Program, the Student Aid Commission, and other nonprofit,
business, or other community organizations to provide support
services as needed in coordination with local
school districts.
54715. On or before November 1, 2012, the Superintendent shall
submit to the Legislature a report that evaluates the early college
commitment program and recommends whether the program should be
continued.
54716. This article, as of January 1, 2014, is repealed, unless a
later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January
1, 2014, deletes or extends that date.