BILL NUMBER: SB 890 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 27, 2007
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 4, 2007
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 1, 2007
INTRODUCED BY Senator Scott
(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Portantino)
(Coauthors: Senators Alquist, Denham, Ducheny, Maldonado, Padilla,
Romero, and Wyland)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Arambula, Beall, Berryhill,
Evans, Hancock, Parra, Solorio, and Torrico)
FEBRUARY 23, 2007
An act to add and repeal Article 6.3 (commencing with Section
54710) 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 Early Commitment to College 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,
2018, the early college commitment
Early Commitment to College program.
Participation by pupils and school districts in the program would be
voluntary. The Superintendent of Public Instruction would be
required, 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 College Opportunity Zones . A
school that is designated as a college opportunity zone
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, or the appropriate
person in the case of foster youth, the opportunity to sign
"Save Me a Spot in College" pledge cards developed
by the Superintendent. Schools not designated as a college
opportunity zone 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 . Participating school
districts would be required to provide college information and
college preparation events targeted towards
inclusive of pupils who sign pledge cards
the pledge .
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 challenging
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. A pupil who signs the pledge and
completes is certified by his or her school district
as having fulfilled the requirements of the pledge would be
preapproved to receive, upon completion of high school, a fee waiver
under the California Community College Board of Governor's fee waiver
program for 2 years of enrollment at a California community college.
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 recommendation to the Legislature, on or
before November 1, 2012 2016 ,
evaluating the early college commitment program and recommending
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. 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 college preparatory
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
Commitment to College Program
54710. The early college commitment Early
Commitment to College 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
challenging college preparatory 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) (1) Participation by pupils and
school districts in the early college commitment
Early Commitment to College 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 inclusive
of pupils who sign the "Save Me a Spot in College"
pledge cards .
(2) For purposes of this article, all of the following apply:
(A) "College Opportunity Zone" means the 30 percent of middle
schools and high schools with the highest proportion of low-income
pupils.
(B) "Low-income pupil" means a pupil who is eligible for free or
reduced-price meals.
(1)
(3) Schools designated as a college
opportunity zone 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)
(4) Schools not designated as a college
opportunity zone 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.
(b) A participating school district shall certify that a pupil has
completed the "Save Me a Spot in College" pledge pursuant to Section
54713 and shall track pupils enrolled in the Early Commitment to
College program by recording and reporting participation data as
directed by the Superintendent.
(c) Any school that participates in the federal free or
reduced-price lunch program is encouraged to participate in the Early
Commitment to College program.
54712. The Superintendent shall perform the following
responsibilities:
(a) Identify school districts as college opportunity
zones schools 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
and include on the card , w hich shall
include the commitments made by the pupil and the major
postsecondary and financial aid opportunities provided by the state.
(c) Develop the letter and information materials about the program
and college opportunities to be placed on the Web site of the
department.
(d)
(c) 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.
(d) Determine the form of recognition for pupils who have been
certified by his or her school district as having fulfilled the
requirements of the pledge pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section
54711.
(f) Develop a method to collect data from participating school
districts to track enrolled pupils and evaluate the effectiveness of
the program.
(e) Develop a method by which participating schools shall record
and report participation in, and outcome data of, the Early
Commitment to College program to the Superintendent pursuant to
subdivision (b) of Section 54711.
(g)
(f) Develop a letter addressed to pupils and
their parents enrolled in grades 6 to 9, inclusive,
and their parents or legal guardians, or the appropriate person in
the case of foster youth, and signed by the Governor and the
Superintendent that describes the major steps to prepare for college,
including postsecondary career technical education, and the major
postsecondary and financial aid opportunities available to students
in California. Develop a second letter that details the Early
Commitment to College program and that is directed to pupils eligible
to sign the "Save Me a Spot in College" pledge as set
forth in subdivision (b). Make this letter
both letters and information on the Early Commitment to College
program available on the Web site of the department and request
all school districts to distribute the letter
letters as appropriate through existing means to all
pupils and their parents.
(h)
(g) In consultation with the Office of the Chancellor
of the California Community College, representatives of the community
college financial aid and business offices, and representatives of
school districts, determine a mechanism through which pupils who have
fulfilled the "Save Me a Spot in College" pledge requirements can be
preapproved to receive, upon completion of high school, a fee waiver
under the California Community College Board of Governor's fee
waiver program for two years of enrollment at a California community
college.
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 challenging college preparatory or career technical
coursework.
(3) Seek proficiency in mathematics and in reading and writing in
English.
(2) Enroll in college preparatory coursework, which may include
A-G requirements and career technical coursework.
(3) Seek to achieve proficiency in mathematics and in reading and
writing in English, as demonstrated on the California Standards Test
or assessments of college-level proficiency.
(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
in the academic year after high school
graduation.
(b) At the time of enrollment, each pupil shall receive a
certificate of participation in the early college commitment
Early Commitment to College program, with his
or her name, and bearing the signature of the Superintendent ,
the local school district superintendent, and the Governor.
(c) Participating pupils 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
(d) School districts shall provide
information and services, through existing programs to pupils, not
exclusive of those who sign the pledge, 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 Early Commitment to College
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 in grade 9 or 10 .
(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, aid and grade point average
verification, in grade 12.
(d) Pupils enrolled in an early college commitment program
(e) Pupils enrolled in an Early
Commitment to College 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 meet
all the eligibility requirements of the Cal Grant Program
(Article 3 (commencing with Section 69530) of Chapter 2 of Part 42 of
Title 3) at the time of application will be eligible to receive a
Cal Grant.
(e) A pupil who signs the pledge and completes the requirements
(f) A pupil who signs the pledge and is
certified as having fulfilled the requirements of the pledge
pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 54711 shall be
preapproved to receive, upon completion of high school, a fee waiver
under the California Community College Board of Governor's fee waiver
program for two years of enrollment at a California community
college.
54714. (a) 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 school
districts.
(b) Nothing in this article prohibits public and private colleges
and universities from maintaining existing, or entering into new,
supplemental agreements with school districts and their pupils to
offer a guarantee of admission, supplemental services, supplemental
financial aid, or other opportunities for alignment of prerequisites
or curriculum.
54715. On or before November 1, 2012, 20
16, the Superintendent shall submit to the
Legislature a report that evaluates the early college commitment
program and recommends whether the shall submit to the
Legislature a recommendation on whether the program should be
continued.
54716. This article, as of January 1, 2014,
2018, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
becomes operative on or before January 1, 2014,
2018, deletes or extends that date.