BILL NUMBER: SB 890 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 17, 2007
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,
Brownley, Evans, Hancock, Karnette, Mullin,
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 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, 2018,
2020, the Early Commitment to College program.
Participation by pupils and school districts in the program would be
voluntary. A pupil scheduled to graduate from high school after
2017 would not be allowed to participate. 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. A school that is 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, or the appropriate person in the case of
foster youth, the opportunity to sign a "Save Me a Spot in
College" pledge developed by the Superintendent. 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.
Participating school districts would be required to provide college
information and college preparation events inclusive of pupils who
sign the pledge.
The bill would provide 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. A pupil who signs the pledge and 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
recommendation to the Legislature, on or before November 1,
2016, 2018, 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
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 Commitment to College Program
54710. The 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 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 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 inclusive of pupils who sign the "Save Me a Spot
in College" pledge. An elementary school district may distribute
the general letter signed by the Governor and the Superintendent of
Public Instruction as set forth in subdivision (f) of Section 54712,
but if the elementary school district chooses to participate in the
program, it shall do so in collaboration with the high
school district in which the predominant number of its pupils attend.
(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.
(3) 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.
(4) 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.
(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.
(d) A pupil scheduled to graduate from high school after 2017
shall not be allowed to enroll in the program.
54712. The Superintendent shall perform the following
responsibilities:
(a) Identify schools as College Opportunity Zones.
(b) Develop the "Save Me a Spot in College" pledge, which shall
include the commitments made by the pupil and the major postsecondary
and financial aid opportunities provided by the state.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(f) Develop a letter addressed to pupils 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 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 letters as appropriate through existing means to all
pupils and their parents.
(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 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) 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 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 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.
(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
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 and grade point average verification, in grade 12.
(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.
(f) (1) 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.
(2) A pupil who has signed the pledge and transfers out of a
participating school district shall not be preapproved for the fee
waiver set forth in paragraph (1) unless he or she attends another
school district that is participating in the program. The new school
district may obtain the pupil's record of participation in the
program from the original school district or the pupil may request to
sign the pledge again, including after grade 9, only if he or she
provides documentation that he or she was enrolled in the program in
his or her original school district.
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, 2016 2018
, the Superintendent shall submit to the Legislature a
recommendation on whether the program should be continued.
54716. This article, as of January 1, 2018
2020 , is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
becomes operative on or before January 1, 2018
2020 , deletes or extends that date.