BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Tom Torlakson, Chairman
890 (Scott)
Hearing Date: 05/31/07 Amended: 05/01/07
Consultant: Dan Troy Policy Vote: ED 9-0
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BILL SUMMARY: SB 890 would establish the Early College
Commitment Program (ECCP) for the purposes of helping students
and families understand the attainability of college, and
motivating students to complete challenging coursework that will
make them eligible for postsecondary education. The program is
voluntary on the part of the students and school districts and
would be administered by the Superintendent of Public
Instruction (SPI). Participating districts would agree to
provide specified support services to pupils to aid their
readiness for college. The SPI would identify schools that have
middle and high schools that are among the poorest 30 percent in
the state in order to encourage their participation. The SPI
would be required to submit a report to the Legislature by
November 1, 2012 recommending whether or not to continue the
program.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Fund
SDE evaluation, monitoring, $350 General
support services, data,
promotion
CCC fee waivers Unknown
General*
*Counts toward meeting the Proposition 98 minimum funding
guarantee
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STAFF COMMENTS: SUSPENSE FILE. AS PROPOSED TO BE AMENDED
Students pledging participation in applicable districts would
agree to meet all high school graduation requirements, take
rigorous coursework including in math and science, and complete
an application for financial aid in their senior year of high
school.
Districts agreeing to participate in ECCP would be encouraged to
implement the program throughout the district and required to
give pupils in grades 6 through 9, as specified, a pledge card.
Districts would also provide participating pupils with
information about college, provide transcript assessments and
other support, and provide reports to the SPI for purposes of
monitoring and evaluating the program.
Institutions of higher education would also be encouraged to
provide support services in coordination with participating
school districts.
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SB 890 (Scott)
This bill imposes short- and long-term activities on the
Department of Education that would likely cost between $200,000
and $500,000. Staff notes that this program provides no funding
for districts to participate, and that districts can currently
perform all specified activities without legislation.
AS PROPOSED TO BE AMENDED:
Proposed author's amendments would;
Add coauthors.
Specify that pupil participation is voluntary.
Specify that the pledge card developed by the SPI would
include the commitments made by the pupil, the
postsecondary institutions, and by the state.
Utilize online distribution to schools of specified
information rather than the postal system.
Require SDE to develop and post on their website a
letter describing major preparation steps for college and
the available financial aid opportunities. Request
districts to distribute the letter.
Require the SPI to determine a mechanism by which pupils
can be assured a 2-year CCC fee waiver.
Replace existing reference to financial aid with a
guaranteed pre-approval for a 2-year CCC fee waiver for
students who sign the pledge and complete all requirements.
Staff notes that the guarantee for CCC fee waivers could
potentially increase state costs to the extent that more
students receive the waiver than would otherwise have been
eligible. However, it is also the case that a high percentage
of fees are already waived by the CCCs, and that the pledge
program targets communities that are disproportionately
low-income. Thus, it is likely that a significant majority of
the pupils eligible through this program would likely receive a
waiver, anyway. The cost pressures, in this case, are unknown.