BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2682
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 2682 (Block)
As Amended August 20, 2010
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |67-2 |(June 2, 2010) |SENATE: |30-0 |(August 25, |
| | | | | |2010) |
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Original Committee Reference: HIGHER ED.
SUMMARY : Requires the California Community College (CCC) Board
of Governors (BOG) to establish a pilot project to create a
centrally delivered system of student assessment. Specifically,
this bill :
1)Requires BOG to establish a pilot project to create a
centrally delivered system of student assessment to be used as
one of multiple measures for CCC placement and advisement of
students and requires the pilot project to include the
following objectives:
a) Creation of a centrally delivered system of student
assessment that provides a single assessment instrument for
use by CCC in English, mathematics, and English as a second
language;
b) Creation of a secure centrally housed assessment test
data warehouse that collects all assessment scores
generated by assessed students at all participating CCCs as
well as all available K-12 assessment data and transcript
information; and; and,
c) Creation of an Internet Web portal that can be accessed
by CCC personnel and students that provides:
i) An assessment profile that can be accessible for
counseling, matriculation, and course placement purposes;
ii) A pretest application that emulates the structure of
the pilot project assessment that students can practice
and familiarize themselves with before taking
assessments; and,
AB 2682
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iii) An advisement tool that provides students with
information on historical success rates of remedial
courses for students at various levels of academic
remediation.
2)Requires BOG to convene an advisory committee for the pilot
project that includes representatives from the CCC
Chancellor's Office (CCCCO), the Legislative Analyst's Office
(LAO), the Department of Finance, the State Department of
Education, the CCC Academic Senate, the CCC Research and
Planning Group, and the CCC Matriculation Professionals
Association.
3)Requires BOG to report on progress made on the pilot project
by February 28, 2011, and requires the report to include the
estimated cost for full implementation of the pilot project,
the technical feasibility of expanding the pilot project,
feedback on any potential legislative changes needed to
deliver test scores to and from the data warehouse, and the
best model for providing ongoing funding for the pilot
project.
4)Provides that, in developing the pilot, the CCCCO shall use
the existing text item banks created by the California State
University (CSU) and the K-12 system as part of the state's
college readiness assessment.
5)Provides that the CCCCO and the CSU shall work together to
align and leverage the state's college readiness assessment,
including the Early Assessment Program, to facilitate the
effective and economical implementation of the Pilot.
The Senate amendments clarify that the centrally delivered
system of student assessment shall be used as one of multiple
measures, consistent with existing regulations, in determining
appropriate student placement, and require the CCCCO to work
with the CSU and K-12 system in implementation of the Pilot.
EXISTING LAW establishes matriculation services required to be
made available by CCCs, including, among other services, the
administration of assessment instruments to determine competency
in math and language skills and student study and learning
skills.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill was substantially similar
AB 2682
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to the version approved by the Senate.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, CCCCO indicates that it has received grants of
$500,000 that would cover the cost of the pilot. Ultimately,
costs for the statewide utilization would be in the millions,
and could potentially result on Proposition 98 mandate costs to
the extent CCC districts are required to participate. These
costs will be considered through the progress report. It is
also possible that the long-term statewide costs would be offset
by the increased efficiency of student assessment and placement,
should the pilot prove successful.
COMMENTS : According to CCCCO, about 85% of incoming CCC
students are not proficient in college-level math, and about 70%
arrive unprepared for college-level English. Student assessment
tests are often used to assist CCC campuses in directing
students to take coursework that is appropriate for their skill
level. Most studies recommend that incoming CCC students be
assessed prior to enrolling in classes, yet in the fall of 2006,
97,000 CCC students failed to participate in assessment.
Additionally, there are dozens of different standardized tests
are used throughout the CCC system and many CCCs recognize only
their own tests and require students who were previously tested
at other CCCs to be reassessed. This sends a confusing message
to current and prospective students and results in costly
duplicative testing by CCCs.
According to the author, implementation of a centralized
assessment program will increase the number of students assessed
and decrease assessment costs. This bill will result in saving
students' time and CCC funds by allowing students to take their
test scores with them to different CCCs. This bill will help
ensure students understand expectations before taking the tests
through online pre-testing, allow more accurate placement of
students, and save millions of dollars by ensuring CCCs can
leverage purchasing power by purchasing testing instruments
centrally rather than at the CCC district level.
Analysis Prepared by : Laura Metune / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960
FN: 0006608