CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill No. 1154

Introduced by Assembly Member Bonta

February 21, 2019

An act relating to postsecondary education.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1154, as introduced, Bonta. California State University: Early care and education major pilot program.
Existing state law, known as the Donahoe Higher Education Act, sets forth, among other things, the missions and functions of California’s public and independent segments of higher education and their respective institutions of higher education. Existing law establishes the California State University under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University as one of the public segments of postsecondary education in this state.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation to create a pilot program at 4 California State University campuses to offer a major in early care and education for children zero to 5 years of age, inclusive.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1) There is a shortage of early care and education providers in California.
(2) There are a number of barriers to recruiting and retaining a qualified early care and education workforce, including the absence of a clear educational pathway to become an early care and education teacher.
(3) To create a highly qualified workforce, there is a need to create a major that equips prospective students with both subject matter knowledge and pedagogical skills concurrently, to strengthen their preparation for the classroom, which the state currently does not offer.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation to create a pilot program at four California State University campuses to offer a major in early care and education for children zero to five years of age, inclusive.