BILL NUMBER: SB 890	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 8, 2008
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 20, 2007
	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:  
Assembly Members   Bass   and Portantino  )
   (Coauthors: Senators Alquist,  Correa,  Denham, Ducheny,
Maldonado, Padilla, Romero, and Wyland)
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members  Arambula,  
  Beall,   Aghazarian,  
Arambula,  Beall,   Berg,  Berryhill,
Brownley,  Davis,     De
Leon,     Eng,  
  Evans,   
Fuentes,     Hancock, 
 Caballero,   Carter,   Coto,   Davis,
  De Leon,   DeSaulnier,   Dymally, 
 Emmerson,   Eng,   Evans,   Feuer,
  Fuentes,   Fuller,   Furutani, 
 Galgiani,   Hancock,   Huffman,  Jones,
Karnette, Krekorian, Laird,  Ma,   
 Mullin,     Parra,
    Solorio,   Lieber,
  Ma,   Mendoza,   Mullin,  
Nava,   Parra,   Price,   Salas, 
 Solorio,   Swanson,  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,  2020
  2019  , the Early Commitment to College program.
Participation by pupils  and   ,  school
districts  , colleges, and universities  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   public schools that maintain any of
grades 6 to 9, inclusive,  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 parents or guardians 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 parents or guardians 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 receive, upon enrollment at a community college, a
fee waiver under the  fee waiver program of the Board of
Governors of the  California Community  College Board of
Governor's fee waiver program   Colleges  for 2 or
more 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 and universities, 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, 
2018   2017  , on whether the program should be
continued. 
   These provisions would be repealed on January 1, 2019. 
   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 career technical coursework
and the course requirements for admission to the University of
California and the California State University.
   (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 and direct assistance 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 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) Participation by colleges and universities in the Early
Commitment to College program is voluntary.  
   (2) 
    (3)  For purposes of this article, all of the following
apply:
   (A) "College Opportunity Zone" means the 30 percent of 
middle schools and the 30 percent of high schools  
public schools that maintain any of grades 6 to 9, inclusive, 
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) 
    (4)  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 parents and guardians, the
opportunity to sign a "Save Me a Spot in College" pledge. 
   (4) 
    (5)  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 guardian 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 and outcome data as directed by the Superintendent.
   (c) Any school that  participates in the federal free or
reduced-price lunch program   has pupils who are
eligible for free or reduced-price meals in the National School 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.  The
pledge shall contain all of the following assurances:  
   (1) A pupil who signs the pledge and enrolls in the Early
Commitment to College program, in the same manner as all other
pupils, shall be eligible to continue his or her postsecondary
education at a campus of the California Community Colleges to pursue
career technical education or an associate degree, or to prepare for
transfer to a four-year college or university, or, if he or she meets
the admission requirements and applies for admission, at the
University of California or the California State University. 

   (2) A pupil who signs the pledge and meets all the eligibility
requirements of the Cal Grant Program (Article 3 (commencing with
Section 69530) of Chapter 2 of Part 42 of Division 5 of Title 3) at
the time of application shall be eligible to receive a Cal Grant
award.  
   (3) In a manner that is consistent with Article 1 (commencing with
Section 76300) of Chapter 2 of Part 47 of Division 7 of Title 3, a
pupil who signs the pledge shall receive, upon enrollment at a
community college, a fee waiver under the fee waiver program of the
Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges for two or
more years of enrollment at a campus of the California Community
Colleges, as long as the student is a California resident and
continues to show financial need on a completed Free Application for
Federal Student Aid. 
   (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 , including a method
for participating school districts to notify colleges and
universities in their service area that the school district is
participating in the program and seeking partnerships with  
colleges, universities, and others to plan and conduct activities to
implement the program  .
   (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) (1) Develop a letter addressed to pupils enrolled in grades 6
to 9, inclusive, and their parents or guardians, and signed 
by the Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the
local district superintendent that   by the
Superintendent and the superintendent of the school district 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.

   (2) Develop a second letter signed by the  Governor, the
Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the local district
superintendent   Superintendent and th   e
superintendent of the school district  , to be directed to
pupils eligible to sign the pledge pursuant to Section 54711, and
their parents or guardians, that details the Early Commitment to
College Program, including the pledge, in addition to the information
in the letter directed to all students in grades 6 to 9, inclusive.
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) Develop a method for participating school districts to notify
colleges and universities in their service area that the school
district is participating in the program and seeking partnerships
with colleges, universities, and others to plan and conduct
activities to implement the program. 
   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
career technical coursework and the course requirements for admission
to the University of California and the California State University.

   (3) Seek to achieve proficiency in mathematics and in reading and
writing in English, as demonstrated by results on the 
California Standards Test or   Standardized Testing and
Reporting Program pursuant to Section 60640. Pupils attending
nonpublic schools, which do not participate in the Standardized
Testing and Reporting Program pursuant to Section 60640, shall seek
to achieve proficiency in mathematics and reading and writing in
English as demonstrated by results on other  assessments of
college-level readiness.
   (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 within 12 months
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 
    (b)     School districts that choose to
participate in the voluntary Early Commitment to Colleg   e
program  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
services shall include all of the following: 
   (1) 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 and the superintendent of the school district. 

   (2) Participating pupils also shall receive a booklet of college
information providing more specific information about eligibility
requirements, preparation steps, and other pertinent information.
 
   (1) 
    (3)  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
and his or her parent or guardian on how he or she is doing relative
to state standards and other benchmarks. 
   (2) 
    (4)  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) 
    (5)  A visit to at least one community college,
including, but not  limited to, exposure to career technical
and transfer programs, and   necessarily limited to,
exposure to career technical education and transfer programs, and,
where geographically feasible,  at least one four-year college
in grade 9 or 10. 
   (4) 
    (6)  Information on college admissions tests in grade
11. 
   (5) 
    (7)  Information on college admission and community
college enrollment steps in grade 12. 
   (6) 
    (8)  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 the Early Commitment to College program, in
the same manner as all other pupils, will be eligible to continue
their postsecondary education at a California community college to
pursue career technical education or an associate degree, or to
prepare for transfer to a four-year college or 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) Consistent with Article 1 (commencing with Section 76300)
of Chapter 2 of Part 47 of Division 7 of Title 3, a pupil who signs
the pledge shall receive, upon enrollment at a community college, a
fee waiver under the California Community College Board of Governor's
fee waiver program for two or more years of enrollment at a
California community college, as long as the student is a California
resident and continues to show financial need on a completed free
application for federal student aid.  
   (2) A 
    (9)     Information communicating that a
 pupil who has signed the pledge and transfers out of a
participating school district shall not receive the recognition set
forth in subdivision (d) of Section 54712, 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 and universities, 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,  2018   2017
 , the Superintendent shall submit to the Legislature a 
report on the status of the program, including, but not limited to,
the following information:  
   (a) The number of school districts and pupils participating in the
program.  
   (b) The number of participating pupils who fulfilled the
requirements of the pledge pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section
54711.  
   (c) Any relevant outcome data reported by school districts to the
Superintendent pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 54711. 
    As part of this report, the Superintendent shall provide a
 recommendation on whether the program should be continued.
   54716.  This article  , as of January 1, 2020,
 shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2019, and as of
that date  is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
becomes operative on or before January 1,  2020 
 2019  , deletes or extends that date.