BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Tom Torlakson, Chairman
946 (Scott)
Hearing Date: 05/07/07 Amended: As Introduced
Consultant: Dan Troy Policy Vote: ED 8-1
_________________________________________________________________
____
BILL SUMMARY: This bill would establish the Community College
Early Assessment Pilot Program (CCEAPP) for the purpose of
providing 11th grade pupils with indicators of their readiness
for transfer-level English and math. The pilot program, to be
administered by the California Community Colleges (CCC), would
utilize a modified California Standards Test (CST) as a
diagnostic tool to assess pupil readiness. Students would be
notified of their test results and readiness. Participating
colleges and their feeder high schools would implement a grade
12 enrichment curriculum designed to address basic math and
English skills necessary for postsecondary success.
The CCEAPP, modeled after a program run by the California State
University (CSU), would commence in the 2008-09 fiscal year and
operate for five years at 25 participating community colleges
and their feeder high schools. To the extent funds are provided
in the Budget Act, the CCC would contract for an independent
evaluation for the program, and the Legislative Analyst's Office
would make recommendations as to whether the CCEAPP should be
continued, modified, expanded, or discontinued based on the
evaluation.
_________________________________________________________________
____
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Fund
College outreach $2,100 annually
throughGeneral* the 2012-13 year
CCC administration $250 annually through
Generalthe 2012-13 year
Evaluation $150 in 2011-12 General
*Counts toward meeting the Proposition 98 minimum funding
guarantee
_________________________________________________________________
____
STAFF COMMENTS: This bill meets the criteria for referral to the
Suspense File.
According to the Chancellor's Office of the CCC, operating this
program would cost $2.1 million dollars annually to fund program
outreach at 25 colleges. This estimate is based on costs for
CSU's Early Assessment Program. The CCC also indicates a need
for $250,000 annually and 2 positions for central administrative
costs. Additionally, an evaluation would cost approximately
$150,000.
This bill is similar to SB 1563 (Escutia, 2006) which was vetoed
last year by the
-1-
Page 2
SB 946 (Scott)
Governor. The veto message asserted that the program was
unnecessary since CSU
operates a similar program. The Governor also stated that there
was no need for the Community Colleges to establish a new 12th
grade curriculum as one has already been established, and
suggested that better strategies for teaching the new curriculum
was needed more than a new basic skills curriculum.
Staff recommends the bill be amended to make the program
inoperative as of June 30, 2014. This date would coincide with
the required LAO assessment of the program.