BILL NUMBER: SB 1143 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 1, 2010
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 5, 2010
INTRODUCED BY Senator Liu
( Coauthor: Senator Alquist
)
FEBRUARY 18, 2010
An act to add Section 84502 to the Education Code, relating to
community college funding.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1143, as amended, Liu. Community college funding.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under
the administration of the Board of Governors of the California
Community Colleges, as one of the 3 segments of public postsecondary
education in this state. Existing law establishes a system of funding
community colleges pursuant to which calculations based on the
number of full-time equivalent students (FTES) enrolled in classes at
the colleges are a major factor.
This bill would require the board of governors to calculate FTES
using the average active enrollment in a course as of a specified
census date and at course completion. The bill would authorize the
board of governors to adopt an alternative and equivalent calculation
method for designated types of courses. The bill would require that
a decrease in FTES in a district that is due solely to a change in
calculation required by this bill shall not result in a reduction in
the general apportionment made to that district prior to the
2012-13 2013- 14 fiscal year.
The bill would prohibit implementation of the FTES calculation from
resulting in a reduction in overall system funding for student
enrollment or statewide requested changes in budge ted
workload FTES.
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. The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
(a) The low rate of degree completion among community college
students is threatening California's economic future.
(b) In order to reach the education levels of the most competitive
economies, the number of students earning college degrees in
California each year must increase by more than 50 percent.
(c) Over 70 percent of public undergraduate enrollment in
California is in the community colleges.
(d) Only 24 percent of degree-seeking students complete a
certificate or associate degree or transfer to a four-year college or
university within six years.
(e) Under current law, community colleges receive most of their
annual funds based on student enrollment in the third week of each
semester.
(f) This method of allocating funds creates an incentive for
community colleges to enroll students, but no fiscal incentive for
those colleges to help students complete their courses and earn
degrees. Currently, only about 60 percent of community college
courses are successfully completed.
(g) Many of today's community college students require extensive
academic and student support services to remain enrolled and succeed.
Community colleges lack the resources and the incentives to invest
in this level of student support.
SEC. 2. Section 84502 is added to the Education Code, to read:
84502. The For purposes of calculating
changes in full-time equivalent students (FTES) enrollment pursuant
to paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, of subdivision (d) of Section
84750.5, the rules and regulations prescribed pursuant to
Section 84500 shall calculate full-time equivalent student enrollment
using the average active enrollment in a course as of the census
date at the one-fifth point and at course completion.
(a) The board of governors may adopt an alternative and equivalent
calculation method for the following:
(1) Short term credit courses.
(2) Irregularly scheduled credit courses.
(3) Open entry/open exit courses.
(4) In-service training courses.
(5) Noncredit courses, except for distance education courses.
(6) Apprenticeship classes of related and supplemental
instruction.
(7) Tutoring courses.
(b) The board shall adopt one or more weighting factors for the
full-time equivalent students (FTES) FTES
calculation in order to ensure that districts do not have a
disincentive to enroll students from demographic groups with
historically lower rates of course completion , including
low-income students as measured by Pell Grant eligibility, English
language learners, students with disabilities, and students entering
with English or Math, or both, competencies below college level
.
(c) A decrease in the FTES of a district that is due solely to the
change in calculation required by this section shall not result in a
reduction of revenue apportioned to that district pursuant to
Section 84750.5 prior to the 2012-13 2013-
14 fiscal year.
(d) The implementation of the FTES calculation prescribed by this
section shall not result in a reduction in overall system funding for
student enrollment or statewide requested changes in budgeted
workload FTES. Notwithstanding Section 84750.5, the funding rates per
FTES set forth in subdivision (d) of Section 84750.5 shall be
adjusted by dividing the appropriation for FTES in the Budget Act of
2010 by the number of FTES calculated pursuant to the calculation
prescribed by this section.