BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Carol Liu, Chair
2013-2014 Regular Session
BILL NO: AB 2352
AUTHOR: Chesbro
INTRODUCED: February 21, 2014
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: June 25, 2014
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT: Daniel Alvarez
SUBJECT : Community colleges: early and middle high
schools.
SUMMARY
This bill exempts a student attending an early college high
school from lower community college enrollment status, as
specified. In addition, this bill provides that a
community college district may claim state apportionment
funding for middle college high school (MCHS) and ECHS
students for courses required for the students' MCHS or
ECHS programs even if the courses do not comply with
existing statutory criteria applicable to other high school
students taking community college courses.
BACKGROUND
Existing law:
1) 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.)
2) Requires the governing board of a CCC district to
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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. However, an exemption is provided
for MCHS students.
(EC � 76001)
3) 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)
4) Establishes early college high schools (ECHS) which
are small, autonomous schools that blend high school
and college into a coherent educational program. They
are designed so that all students can achieve two
years of college credit at the same time they are
earning a high school diploma (within four to five
years of entering ninth grade). By reaching out to
middle schools or starting with the seventh grade and
providing extensive support, Early College High
Schools ensure that all students are ready for
college-level courses in high school.
ANALYSIS
This bill exempts from the low enrollment priority status
requirement, a student attending an early college high
school (ECHS), if the student is seeking to enroll in a
California Community College (CCC) course that is required
for the student's ECHS program.
In addition, this bill provides that a community college
district may claim state apportionment funding for middle
college high school (MCHS) and ECHS students for courses
required for the students' MCHS or ECHS programs even if
the courses do not comply with existing statutory criteria
applicable to other high school students taking community
college courses.
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STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill . According to the author's office,
high school pupils participating in MCHS and ECHS
programs are considered special part-time or full-time
students for purposes of attending a community college
to fulfill the college aspect of the program. And
pupils attending ECHS programs are encountering
difficulty in enrolling in the necessary community
college classes they need to meet the dual degree
coursework requirement of such programs and thus there
has been a decrease in the number of students
completing the full mission of these programs. The
author argues that ECHS are experiencing a drop in the
number of new student applications due to pupils'
difficulty in enrolling in community college courses.
By providing ECHS students an exemption from the low
enrollment priority requirement, this bill will give
ECHS students an opportunity to complete their
programs in a timely manner. AB 230 (Carter, Chapter
50, Statues of 2011), allowed MCHS students this
exemption, but not ECHS students; this bill will give
bring parity to ECHS students.
2) Early College High Schools are small, autonomous
schools that blend high school and college into a
coherent educational program. They are designed so
that all students can achieve two years of college
credit at the same time they are earning a high school
diploma (within four to five years of entering ninth
grade). By reaching out to middle schools or starting
with the seventh grade and providing extensive
support, ECHS ensure that all students are ready for
college-level courses in high school.
According to information provided by the author, there
are currently 40 ECHS in California, of which 92
percent are partnered with a community college. The
demographic make-up of the ECHS students in the 40
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schools in California is as follows: 60 percent are
Latino; 17 percent are White; 9 percent are Black;
and, 6 percent are Asian.
ECHS are designed for young people who are
underrepresented in postsecondary education, including
students who have not had access to the academic
preparation needed to meet college readiness
standards, students for whom the cost of college is
prohibitive, students of color, first generation
college-goers, and English language learners.
Middle College High School is a collaborative program
that enables high-potential, "at-risk" students to
obtain a high school education while concurrently
receiving direct access to college courses and
services. The high school is located on and
integrated into the community college environment,
whereby high school students attend classes at a
community college and earn credit toward a high school
diploma while having the opportunity to concurrently
take college courses and to receive more intensive
counseling and administrative attention.
3) Concurrent enrollment 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 from "advanced scholastic or vocational
work." Special-admit students have typically been
advanced pupils wanting to take more challenging
coursework or pupils who come from high schools where
Advanced Placement or honors courses are not widely
available. Additionally, programs such as middle
college high schools and early college high schools
use concurrent enrollment to offer instructional
programs for at-risk pupils that focus on college
preparatory curricula. These programs are developed
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through partnerships between a school district and a
CCC.
4) Current status of Community Colleges . Since 2013, the
State economy has enjoyed resurgence from its
prolonged economic recession. However, the
Administration continues to be leery of over-extending
any program or enrollment expenditures. Prior to
2013, General Fund reductions combined with increased
student demand had left the CCC unable to provide
course offerings to fully meet student needs.
According to a March 2013 report by the Public Policy
Institute of California (PPIC), course offerings had
declined from 420,000 to 334,000 since 2008 - 86,000
or 21% of course offerings - and most were credit
courses necessary to transfer or obtain a degree or
certificate.
When there is greater demand than there are course
offerings, course registration priorities play an
important role in managing enrollment by determining
which groups of students are enrolled in needed
courses and which students get turned away.
5) According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee to
the extent districts can claim additional
apportionment funding for MCHS and ECHS 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.
6) Related legislation : AB 1451 (Holden) removes certain
restrictions on concurrent enrollment and authorizes
school districts to enter into partnerships with
community college districts to provide high school
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pupils opportunities for advanced scholastic work,
career technical or other coursework at a community
college campus. AB 1451 was passed by this Committee
on a 7-0 vote, and is referred to the Senate
Appropriations Committee.
SUPPORT
California School Boards Association
Newport- Mesa Unified School District
San Diego Unified School District
OPPOSITION
None received.