BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 684
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Date of Hearing: April 9, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Das Williams, Chair
AB 684 (Medina) - As Amended: March 21, 2013
SUBJECT : Workforce training: General Educational Development
(GED) test preparation: grants.
SUMMARY : Authorizes the California Workforce Investment Board
(Board) to provide grants from available state and federal funds
to accredited institutions that provide instruction to persons
who are preparing for the GED test and that apply to the Board
to receive grants. Specifically, this bill :
1)Declares that the Legislature believes it is important to
increase the number of Californians who obtain a marketable
and industry-recognized credential or degree; recognizes that
it is important to advance the education and training of
California students and workers so that they can keep pace
with the education and skill needs of the state, its regional
economies, and leading industry sectors; and expresses the
intent of the Legislature to provide funding to institutions
that offer instruction to persons who are preparing for the
GED test so that more Californians may pass the GED test and
become eligible to receive financial aid when they matriculate
to a postsecondary institution for a degree or vocational
training certificate.
2)Authorizes the Board to provide grants from state and federal
funds that are available to the Board for the purpose of
workforce training, to accredited institutions that provide
instruction to individuals that are preparing for the GED test
and apply to the Board for a grant.
3)Requires the Board to develop and adopt regulations and
procedures for the process of receiving and evaluating
applications for grants from accredited institutions offering
GED training.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Provides for a variety of student financial aid programs
including the Cal Grant programs, the CCC Board of Governors
(BOG) fee waiver, a variety of systemwide and/or
AB 684
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campus-specific grant and/or loan programs, and other
state-administered financial aid programs. Participation in
these programs is, among other criteria, typically needs-based
and limited to California residents (Education Code [EC] �
69433).
2)Requires the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to
issue a California high school equivalency certificate to any
person who has not completed high school and who meets a
variety of requirements, including successfully passing the
GED (EC � 51420).
3)Requires the California Workforce Investment Board to assist
the Governor in the development, oversight, and the continuous
improvement of California's workforce investment system
(Unemployment Insurance Code � 14010).
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : Background . According to two recent Public Policy
Institute of California (PPIC) reports, by the year 2025, demand
for college-educated workers will outstrip the supply.
Researchers estimate that California will need an additional 1
million to 3.5 million workers with some postsecondary education
training. However, the most recent statistics from the US
Census Bureau indicate that approximately 19% of California
persons do not hold a high school diploma or a GED, ranking
California 45th in the nation in high school completion,
according to a recent study by the National Center for Education
Statistics.
In the past, students without a high-school diploma or GED could
apply for federal financial aid through the Ability to Benefit
(ATB) test; however, this option was eliminated last year,
affecting the ability of students to enroll in programs to
complete their high school education.
Need for the bill . According to the author, the elimination of
the ATB test reduced the opportunity for California's low-income
persons without a high school diploma or GED to access federal
financial aid. This includes the loss of eligibility for Pell
Grants and other financial aid to non-high school graduates
interested in enrolling and preparing to take the GED test in an
accredited post-secondary training center on or after July 1,
2012.
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According to the author, California will receive an estimated
$454 million from the federal government this year in order to
provide services for adults, unemployed workers and youth.
Allocation of state Workforce Investment Act funds for adults
pursuing a GED while attending accredited training education
centers will facilitate in the ability of low-income individuals
having the ability to receive their GED, enabling them to
qualify for Pell Grants and other forms of federal financial
aid.
The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-220) . The
California Workforce Investment Act established the workforce
investment boards in every state to provide a comprehensive
range of workforce development activities through statewide and
local organizations. These activities, provided in local
communities, can benefit the unemployed of all ages, veterans,
persons with disabilities and employers.
Accredited training centers . According to the Western
Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Accrediting
Commission for Schools, there are 197 WASC-accredited training
centers. These centers are relatively equally disbursed in all
regions throughout the state.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file.
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Jeanice Warden / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960