Bill Text: CA AB634 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Community colleges: career development and college preparation courses.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-10-08 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 450, Statutes of 2023. [AB634 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB634-Enrolled.html

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Enrolled  September 18, 2023

Passed  IN  Senate  September 13, 2023

Passed  IN  Assembly  September 14, 2023

Amended  IN  Senate  September 01, 2023

Amended  IN  Senate  June 14, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 634

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Introduced by Assembly Member Ward

February 09, 2023

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An act to amend Section 84760.5 of the Education Code, relating to postsecondary education.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 634, Ward. Community colleges: career development and college preparation courses.

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law makes specified community college career development and college preparation courses and classes for which credit is not given, and that are offered in a sequence of courses leading to certain outcomes, eligible for state funding.

This bill would instead make the same courses and classes for which credit is not given eligible for state funding if those courses are offered in both face-to-face and distance education instructional methods.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

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

SECTION 1.

 Section 84760.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:

84760.5.

 (a) For purposes of this chapter, the following career development and college preparation courses and classes for which credit is not given, and courses that are offered in both face-to-face and distance education instructional methods, leading to a certificate of completion, that lead to improved employability or job placement opportunities, or to a certificate of competency in a recognized career field by articulating with college-level coursework, completion of an associate of arts degree, or for transfer to a four-year degree program, are eligible for funding subject to subdivision (b):

(1) Classes and courses in elementary and secondary basic skills.

(2) Classes and courses for students, eligible for educational services in workforce preparation classes, in the basic skills of speaking, listening, reading, writing, mathematics, decisionmaking, and problem solving skills that are necessary to participate in job-specific technical training.

(3) Short-term vocational programs with high employment potential, as determined by the chancellor in consultation with the Employment Development Department using job demand data provided by that department.

(4) Classes and courses in English as a second language and vocational English as a second language.

(b) The board of governors shall adopt criteria and standards for the identification of career development and college preparation courses and the eligibility of these courses for funding, including the definition of courses eligible for funding pursuant to subdivision (a). The criteria and standards shall be based on recommendations from the chancellor, the statewide academic senate, and the statewide association of chief instructional officers. The career and college preparation courses to be identified for this higher rate of funding should include suitable courses that meet one or more of the qualifications described in subdivision (a).

(c) A district that offers courses described in subdivision (a), but that is not eligible for funding under subdivision (b), shall be eligible for funding under Section 84757.

(d) The chancellor, in consultation with the Department of Finance and the Legislative Analyst’s Office, shall develop specific outcome measures for career development and college preparation courses for incorporation into the annual report required by subdivision (b) of Section 84754.5.

(e) The chancellor shall prepare and submit to the Department of Finance and the Legislature, on or before November 1 of each year, a report that details, at a minimum, the following:

(1) The amount of FTES claimed by each community college district for career development and college preparation courses and classes.

(2) The specific certificate programs and course titles of career development and college preparation courses and classes receiving additional funding pursuant to this section, and the number of those courses and classes receiving additional funding.