BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1540
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 7, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 1540 (Hagman) - As Amended: April 22, 2014
Policy Committee: Higher
EducationVote:12-0
Education 7-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill expands the opportunity for high school students to
enroll in community college computer science courses and makes
other changes to concurrent enrollment provisions. Specifically,
this bill:
1) Authorizes a school district to allow a pupil, upon
recommendation of a community college computer science dean
or administrator, and with parental consent, to attend a
community college and take one or more computer science
courses.
2) Reinstates, until January 1, 2017, the following
concurrent enrollment-related provisions that sunset
January 1, 2014, including exempting specified types of
courses from the summer session concurrent enrollment
limitation that only up to five percent of each high school
grade can enroll at a community college summer session.
3) Also exempts a computer science course that is part of a
degree sequence in that subject matter from the five
percent enrollment cap per (2).
4) Authorizes the community college district governing
boards to enter into partnership agreements with school
districts to provide pupils who have exhausted all
opportunities to benefit from computer science courses at
their schools to enroll in up to 11 units per semester of
community college computer science courses.
AB 1540
Page 2
5) States that the pupil shall receive high school credit
for the community college course taken through the
partnership if the course is taught by a credentialed
teacher and the student is not assessed any fees.
6) Stipulates that the community college district shall not
receive state funding for an instructional activity in
which the school received funding, but will receive state
funding if the school did not.
7) Stipulates that a pupil shall not be denied enrollment
if a computer science course requires a laptop and the
pupil does not own such a device.
FISCAL EFFECT
To the extent districts can claim apportionment funding for
additional concurrently enrolled students, there will be
increased General Fund (Prop 98) costs. The equivalent of only
33 additional full-time equivalent students (FTES) statewide, at
the current funding rate of $4,636 per FTES would exceed
$150,000. To the extent, however, that community colleges as a
whole are already using all state funds apportioned for
enrollment, the bill will result in additional unknown Prop 98
cost pressure.
COMMENTS
1) Background . Concurrent enrollment provides pupils the
opportunity to enroll in college courses and earn college
credit while still enrolled in high school. Currently, a
pupil is allowed to concurrently enroll in a CCC as a
"special admit" while still attending high school, if the
pupil's school district determines that the pupil would
benefit. During summer session at a CCC, principals are
limited to recommending no more than five percent of their
pupils in each grade level to enroll at a CCC during a
summer session. Provisions that sunset January 1, 2014
exempted the following types of courses from this
limitation:
AB 1540
Page 3
a) A lower division Intersegmental General Education
Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) course that applies to the
General Education breadth requirements of the California
State University (CSU).
b) A college-level occupational course for credit that is
part of a sequence of vocational or career technical
education courses that leads to a degree or certificate.
c) The course is necessary to assist a pupil who has not
passed the California High School Exit Exam, and the
student is in the senior year.
This bill reinstates these exemptions until January 1,
2017, and adds college-level computer science courses for
credit as an exemption.
2) Purpose . According to the author's office, the
technology industry is one of the fastest growing in
California and is crucial to our economy. The author states
that, "Tech companies have an increasing need for a
qualified, educated domestic workforce, yet California is
far behind in educating our students in the theories and
applications of computer science."
3) Related Legislation . AB 1451 (Holden), pending in this
committee, also reinstates the expired exemptions and
authorizes concurrent enrollment partnerships, though not
for specific curricula.
4) Prior Legislation . In 2011, AB 160 (Portantino), which
was similar to AB 1451, was held on Suspense in Senate
Appropriations.
Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081