BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 946|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 946
Author: Scott (D)
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 8-1, 4/26/07
AYES: Scott, Wyland, Alquist, Maldonado, Padilla, Romero,
Simitian, Torlakson
NOES: Denham
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 14-2, 5/31/07
AYES: Torlakson, Cox, Ashburn, Cedillo, Corbett, Dutton,
Florez, Kuehl, Oropeza, Ridley-Thomas, Simitian,
Steinberg, Wyland, Yee
NOES: Aanestad, Runner
NO VOTE RECORDED: Battin
SUBJECT : Community College Early Assessment Pilot
Program
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill establishes for five years, commencing
with the 2008-09 academic year, the Community College Early
Assessment Pilot program, to be administered by the Board
of Governors of the California Community Colleges, for the
purpose of providing high school students with an indicator
of their readiness for college-level English and math.
ANALYSIS : Currently, the California State University
CONTINUED
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(CSU) operates an Early Assessment Program (EAP); a
collaborative effort among the K-12 schools, the State
Board of Education (SBE), and the California Department of
Education (CDE). Under this EAP, 11th graders taking the
California Standards Test are encouraged to take an
"augmented version" of the test that includes additional
English and math questions and a written essay. The
results of the augmented version, once scored, indicate a
students "readiness" for college-level English and math.
Those whose scores indicate they are not ready, are
encouraged to take classes during their senior year to
improve and strengthen their skills. The goal of the EAP
is to have high school graduates enter the CSU
fully-prepared to do college-level work. More than 60
percent of the nearly 40,000 first-time freshmen admitted
to the CSU require remedial education in English,
mathematics or both.
This bill establishes for five years, commencing with the
2008-09 academic year, the Community College Early
Assessment Pilot Program (CCEAP). Specifically it:
1.Modifies the provisions of law governing the release and
uses of the California Standards Tests (CST).
Specifically it:
A. Adds assessment of college readiness to the
purposes for which a pupil (or his or her parents or
guardians) may release results of the CST to colleges
and universities.
B. Authorizes the use of the CST exam for diagnostic
advice for prospective CCC students.
2.Requires the use of the CSU augmented CST in the CCEAP
and authorizes modification of scoring to measure
"degree-applicable" standards of the CCC.
3.Requires the Chancellor of the CCC to:
A. Work, in coordination with the department to
implement the CCEAP.
B. Select applicant colleges to participate, as
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specified.
C. Give priority for the pilot program to colleges
from districts currently working with or utilizing
data from the California Partnership for Achieving
Students (Cal-Pass).
D. Rely upon the Cal-Pass, as identified, for
collection of augmented CST results for the purpose of
informing development of curriculum to be implemented
in grade 12 to improve postsecondary education student
success.
E. Rely upon the Academic Senate for the CCC, in
cooperation with CSU to develop enriched grade 12
curriculum in basic skill development in English and
math.
F. Contract with an independent entity to evaluate the
effectiveness of CCEAPP and to answer specific
questions, with interim reporting requirements and a
final report due by December 1, 2013, utilizing funds
provided in the Budget Act.
4.Requires the Legislative Analyst's Office to review the
final evaluation report prepared by the Chancellor
contracted entity and make recommendations by February 1,
2014, regarding the future of the CCEAPP.
5.Requires the CCC to work with California Department of
Education and CSU to develop a CCC student-notification
system, which shall ensure that pupils receive
notification regarding their readiness for transfer-level
work, the availability of enrichment opportunities, and
assurance of eligibility to attend a CCC.
6.Declares legislative intent to provide sufficient funds
for up to 25 colleges and their respective feeder high
schools to participate.
7.Makes a number of other related findings and
declarations.
Prior legislation
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This bill is essentially identical to SB 1563 (Escutia)
which was vetoed by the Governor in 2006. The Governor's
veto message read:
I am concerned about the large number of high school
graduates who enter our colleges and universities
unprepared to do college-level work. However, it would
be redundant to create a new pilot program to assess
college readiness specifically for prospective
community college students when the California State
University (CSU) already has a system that can be used
for that purpose.
Moreover, there is no need for the California
Community Colleges, in coordination with the CSU, to
develop a special 12th grade curriculum when the state
has taken years to develop curriculum frameworks that
align with our academic content standards. A special
basic skills curriculum is not what is needed,
instead, the state should focus on developing better
strategies for teaching students the existing
curriculum; this is what students will need to have
mastered in order to succeed in college.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
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 two
positions for central administrative costs. Additionally,
an evaluation would cost approximately $150,000.
NC:nl 6/1/07 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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