BILL NUMBER: SB 1143	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 2, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 21, 2010
	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 colleges.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1143, as amended, Liu. Community colleges: student success and
completion.
   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.
   This bill would require the board to adopt a plan for promoting
and improving student success within the California Community
Colleges and to establish a taskforce to examine specified best
practices and models for accomplishing student success. The bill
would require the taskforce to develop and present specified
recommendations to the board for incorporation into the plan to
improve student success and completion within the California
Community Colleges. The bill would require the board, prior to
implementation of the plan, to report the contents of the plan, and
the recommendations of the taskforce, to specified legislative
committees by  June   March  1, 2012.
   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.  (a) The Board of Governors of the California Community
Colleges shall adopt a plan for promoting and improving student
success within the California Community Colleges and shall establish
a taskforce to examine best practices within the community colleges
and effective models throughout the nation for accomplishing student
success. The members of the taskforce shall include a broad
representation of stakeholders, including, but not limited to,
faculty.
   (b) The taskforce shall develop and present recommendations to the
board for incorporation into the plan to improve student success and
completion within the California Community Colleges. These
recommendations shall focus on, but not be limited to, all of the
following considerations:
   (1) Multiple measures and effective programs for assessing student
success and completion.
   (2) Statutory and regulatory barriers to student success and
completion.
   (3) Best practices for promoting student success and completion,
including, but not limited to, the acquisition of basic skills.
   (4) Alternative funding options for providing necessary services
to students and promoting best practices for student success and
completion.
   (5) Alternative funding options instituted in other states for
improving student success and completion.
   (6) The effective use of technology by community colleges and
districts to promote, evaluate, and improve student success and
completion.
   (c) Prior to presenting recommendations pursuant to subdivision
(b), the taskforce and the board shall facilitate discussions with
key community college stakeholders and other appropriate parties to
provide input on the findings and recommendations of the taskforce.
   (d) Prior to implementing the plan adopted pursuant to subdivision
(a), the board shall report the contents of the plan, and the
recommendations of the taskforce, to the Senate Committee on
Education and the Assembly Committee on Higher Education at a joint
hearing that shall be convened on or before  June 
 March  1, 2012.