BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2 (Portantino)
As Amended May 27, 2011
Majority vote
HIGHER EDUCATION 8-1 APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Block, Donnelly, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Blumenfield, |
| |Achadjian, Brownley, | |Bradford, Charles |
| |Fong, Galgiani, Lara, | |Calderon, Campos, Davis, |
| |Portantino | |Gatto, Hall, Hill, Lara, |
| | | |Mitchell, Solorio |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Miller |Nays:|Harkey, Donnelly, |
| | | |Nielsen, Norby, Wagner |
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SUMMARY : Establishes a state accountability framework for the
purpose of biennially assessing the collective progress of the
state's system of postsecondary education in meeting specified
educational and economic goals. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires that the framework be used to measure progress toward
specified goals by collecting and reporting information that
answers six statewide policy questions:
a) Are enough Californians prepared for postsecondary
education?
b) Are enough Californians going to college?
c) Is the state's postsecondary education system affordable
to all Californians?
d) Are enough Californians successfully completing
certificates and degrees?
e) Are college graduates prepared for life and work in
California?
f) Are California's people, communities, and economy
benefiting?
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2)Requires that the questions in 1) above be answered by
collecting data for up to 30 progress indicators, which may
include any or all of 25 indicators delineated in this bill.
3)Requires the segments of higher education, as represented by
the Governing Boards of the University of California (UC), the
California State University (CSU), and the California
Community Colleges (CCC), and the Association of Independent
California Colleges and Universities, to provide data for the
framework to the California Postsecondary Education Commission
(CPEC) by May 31 of each odd-numbered year. The segments are
to: a) rely on existing data to the extent possible; and, b)
post this data on the Internet.
4)Requires CPEC to make the collected data available on the
Internet and report the data-by August 1, 2012, and by August
1 of each even-numbered year-on an aggregate statewide level,
by segment, by region, and by race and ethnicity, gender, Cal
Grant recipient status, and socioeconomic status to the extent
these data are available, and requires the indicators to be
collected and maintained by each segment longitudinally where
appropriate and possible.
5)Requires the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) and the
Department of Finance (DOF) to convene an advisory committee
to coordinate the technical specifications of the data
collection and indicators.
6)Requires the LAO, in consultation with DOF, to report to the
Legislature and Governor by January 30, 2012, on the
recommended indicator data, including any data limitations in
responding to the suggested indicators, and expresses
legislative intent that to the extent the Legislature and
Governor with the LAO's recommendations, the indicators be
formally adopted by statute.
7)Requires the LAO, within 120 days of receiving the CPEC report
per 4) above to assess the extent to which the state is making
progress regarding the six questions in 1) above, and present
its analysis to a joint hearing of the appropriate legislative
policy and budget subcommittee by December 30 of each
even-numbered year.
8)Authorizes the segments to provide reports, including
AB 2
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specified information regarding each segment's efforts toward
meeting the statewide goals, at the joint legislative hearing.
9)Declares legislative intent that the Governor do the
following:
a) Appoint and convene a task force by January 1, 2012, to
review the accountability framework and recommend any
modifications, and,
b) Establish an advisory body to the task force for
technical expertise and guidance.
10)Declares legislative intent that UC, CSU, CCC, and the
private and independent colleges and universities provide
information, as specified, for students and parents that
improves their understanding and comparison of postsecondary
educational institutions.
11)Declares the following educational and economic goals for
California by 2020:
a) Improve the educational pipeline numbers so that
California is among the top 10 states in the nation in this
regard;
b) Increase California's per capita income to the average
of the top 10 new economy states, as defined; and,
c) To rank in the top 10 states nationally for the
percentages of its age groups with degrees and certificates
conferred.
12)Repeals the following existing provisions, which will be
included in the accountability framework:
a) CPEC to annually report on significant indicators of
performance at the state's public colleges and
universities; and,
b) UC, CSU, and the CCC to provide annual statistical
reports on transfer patterns, and CPEC to report biennially
on the effectiveness of the segments' transfer programs.
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EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires CCC to provide an annual evaluation of district-level
performance in meeting statewide educational outcomes, known
as the Accountability Reporting for the Community Colleges
(ARCC). The ARCC currently contains data for a variety of
indicators.
2)States that UC and CSU have entered into system-specific
"compacts" and then "partnerships" with several Governors to
ensure stable multi-year funding in exchange for a commitment
to deliver on specific performance measures.
3)Requires CPEC to prepare an annual report on performance
indicators for California higher education on a segmental
basis, focusing on demographics, fiscal context, student
preparation, student access, and student outcomes.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee:
1)To the extent the bill does not add new reporting duties on
UC, CSU, and CCC, costs will be absorbable.
2)Data collection costs for CPEC will be absorbable as they
generally replace current commission data collection and
assessment activities being repealed by this bill.
3)LAO costs to convene the advisory committee and analyze the
CPEC data biennially will be absorbable.
4)Any costs for the Governor's task force and advisory body will
be absorbable.
COMMENTS : There is a growing trend toward state accountability
systems for higher education, using different approaches and
indicators. Nearly all states have some form of
mandated statewide accountability program for higher education.
California has relied upon segmental accountability, reflecting
the missions and functions outlined in the California Master
Plan for Higher Education. None of these efforts combine to
measure how California's students perform as a whole nor does
California engage in a statewide approach to higher education
policy planning.
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In 2002, the Senate Office of Research commissioned a study of
higher education accountability models in other states in order
to develop a framework that could function well in California.
The indicators included in this bill are the result of that
study, along with the input of a workgroup that included the
higher education segments, LAO, and other stakeholders. It is
anticipated that much of the data are presently available. Once
it is centralized and analyzed, it will provide the basis for
higher education policy decisions and priorities.
Each of the segments has undertaken planning efforts to ensure
its ability to meet future student and state needs. In December
2010, the UC Regents adopted a report by its Commission on the
Future that addressed how UC can best serve the state in the
years ahead and maintain access, quality and affordability in a
time of diminishing resources. In February 2009, CSU adopted a
10-year strategic plan-Access to Excellence-that identifies
priorities for attention for policy-makers and the broad public
in order to meet California's educational needs. The Community
College League of California, which is comprised of the trustees
and executive officers of the CCC districts, issued a study in
November 2010, outlining effective policy and practice changes
that, if incorporated, could be reasonably implemented by 2020
and would enable the system to increase the number of students
who have access to, and are able to complete, high-quality
degrees, certificates and transfer pathways in our community
colleges. The CCC Board of Governors, pursuant to SB 1143
(Liu), Chapter 409, Statutes of 2010, has established a task
force to examine best practices for promoting student success
and adopt a plan for improving CCC student success.
Analysis Prepared by : Sandra Fried / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960
FN: 0000897