BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Alan Lowenthal, Chair
2011-12 Regular Session
BILL NO: AB 230
AUTHOR: Carter
AMENDED: April 14, 2011
FISCAL COMM: No HEARING DATE: June 8, 2011
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Beth Graybill
SUBJECT : Joint educational programs: middle college high
school students.
SUMMARY
This bill exempts a student attending a middle college high
school (MCHS) from the requirement that California Community
College (CCC) governing boards assign low-enrollment priority
to concurrent enrollment students.
BACKGROUND
Existing law provides opportunities for minor students to
enroll in college-level, degree-applicable courses for
advanced scholastic or advanced vocational purposes while
they are in high school. Current law authorizes the
governing board of a school district, upon recommendation of
the principal of a pupil's school and with parental consent,
to authorize a student to concurrently enroll in a community
college during any session or term to undertake one or more
courses of instruction. (Education Code � 48800 et. seq.)
Existing law requires the governing board of a CCC district
to assign a low enrollment priority to special part-time or
full-time students in order to ensure that these students do
not displace regularly admitted community college students.
(EC � 76001)
Existing law establishes middle college high schools as
broad-based comprehensive instructional programs focusing on
college preparatory and school-to-work curricula, career
education, work experience, community service, and support
and motivational activities. (EC � 11300)
ANALYSIS
AB 230
Page 2
This bill specifies that the requirement for governing boards
of a CCC district to assign a low enrollment priority to
special part-time or full-time students does not apply to a
student attending a middle college high school, if the
student is seeking to enroll in a community college course
that is required for the student's middle college high school
program.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Middle College High Schools . Middle college high school
(MCHS) programs originally created at the La Guardia
College in New York, were authorized in California
statute by AB 1106 (Knox, Chapter 948, 1997) following
early efforts to "pilot" programs at Contra Costa
College and Los Angeles Southwest College and two local
unified school districts.
A MCHS is an alternative high school located on a CCC campus
that serves students who are at risk of dropping out and
are performing below their academic potential. Each
MCHS provides a comprehensive instructional program that
gives students opportunities to take college courses
while still in high school. Unlike students who take
courses through the concurrent enrollment process, MCHS
students are enrolled in a structured program focused on
college preparatory and school-to-work curricula, career
education, work experience, community service, support
and motivational activities. Although the specific
design of an individual MCHS may vary depending on the
circumstances and needs of community college and school
district partners, the basic elements of a MCHS include
a curriculum that focuses on college and career
preparation, a reduced adult-student ratio, flexible
scheduling, and opportunities for experiential
internships, work apprenticeships, and community
service. In addition to completing requirements for
high school graduation, MCHS students can earn an
Associate of Arts degree or 60 transferrable college
credits within five years of starting high school.
Studies indicate that MCHS students benefit from
attending school in a college environment where they are
surrounded by positive role models, participate in work
experience and community internships, and in upper
AB 230
Page 3
grades, are integrated into college classes. There are
approximately 38 MCHS programs statewide, eleven of
which receive state funding for MCHS students.
2) Need for the bill : Because current law requires CCC
districts to assign a low enrollment priority to high
school students who seek CCC concurrent enrollment,
districts often assign MCHS that same status. With
decreasing course offerings and increasing enrollment
demand, many MCHS students are finding it more difficult
to get the courses they need to complete their programs.
As a result, the author's office indicates there has
been a decrease in the number of students who complete a
full MCHS program. Some programs have also experienced
a decline in enrollment as a result of potential
applicants becoming discouraged about the lack of access
to community college courses.
The CCC Chancellor's Office has estimated that CCC reductions
in the 2011-12 Budget Act could mean that an anticipated
350,000 students will be turned away in the 2011-12
academic year, suggesting that the challenge middle
college high school students face in getting the classes
they need to complete their programs could be
exacerbated. By providing MCHS students an exemption
from the low enrollment priority requirement, this bill
will give allow MCHS students to have the same
enrollment priority as regular community college
students if they are seeking to enroll in community
college courses that are required for their program,
thereby making it easier for these students to complete
their programs in a timely manner.
SUPPORT
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees,
AFL-CIO
California Community Colleges Board of Governors
Rancho Santiago Community College District Board of Trustees
Rancho Santiago Community College District Chancellor
Regional Council of Rural Counties
San Bernardino Community College District
San Bernardino Unified School District Superintendent
Letters from individuals
OPPOSITION
AB 230
Page 4
None received.