Pathways to College: Dual Enrollment, Allied Health Programs, Cal-Bridge, CCC to UC Transfers
AB-1891: Community Colleges: Allied Health Programs introduced by State Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber would help to increase the access for students across California to Community College programs that provide training in Allied health fields. “The bill would prohibit a community college district from excluding an applicant to an allied health program on the basis that the applicant is not a resident of that district or has not completed prerequisite courses in that district, and from implementing policies, procedures, and systems that have the effect of excluding an applicant or student who is not a resident of that district from the district’s allied health program.”
Assemblymember Lori Wilson’s AB-2349: Public Postsecondary Education: Cal-Bridge Program would expand the existing Cal-Bridge program which “provides pathways for underrepresented students in California to pursue advanced degrees in STEM fields.” The program would be expanded to include the pursuit of PhDs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. This law would create a pipeline for professors and leaders across the tech industry in California through a partnership between the University of California, the California State University, and California Community Colleges.
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AB-1749: Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act: University of California introduced by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty would expand the existing transfer guarantee of community college students designed for CSU campuses to UC campuses to “require that a student who earns an associate degree for transfer be deemed eligible for transfer into a University of California baccalaureate degree program if they meet certain requirements” with junior status.
Service Learning in CSU and UC Curriculum
With AB-2152 McCarty is proposing a new Service Learning graduation requirement across CSU and UC campuses “emphasizing civic engagement and practical experience.” The benefits of service learning are well documented and there is no shortage of testimonies from current leaders who attribute current success to early community service and civic engagement.
Still, in light of the robust population of transfer students already in the CSU system, and the growing number of transfer students in the UC system, who often struggle to complete campus-specific requirements in two years – the logistics of a yet another graduation requirement that involves coordination with potentially thousands of outside service entities across the seems less than feasible without additional funding for administrative support. Perhaps future discussions might allow for campuses to combine or overlay service learning with existing requirements. In a perfect world, legislators might extend the opportunity for service learning credit to high school students so that they can expand their scope of possibility and increase exposure before matriculating to college. Perhaps the increased attention to after school programs for high school students that McCarty is proposing might provide such an opportunity.
College Campus Safety
Concerning college campuses, and perhaps in response to demonstrations across California and the country, Assemblymember Corey Jackson introduced AB-2936: Higher Education Reconciliation Act which would require a “reconciliation master plan for use on each of their respective campuses to respond to and address cultural and political conflicts.” Unfortunately, the proposed bill does not seem to thoroughly address or acknowledge conflicts on college campuses that involve an imbalance of power, or instances where the institution itself – alongside certain stakeholders – is invested in one side of the conflict.
Early Childhood Education and Childcare
Authored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, AB-2381: California State Preschool Programs: Reimbursement Rates would increase rates for state-funded California preschool programs so that centers can adequately compensate childcare workers. These workers incur costs to complete mandatory college course units and training so that they can be qualified to teach California’s youngest learners. Also by Bonta, AB-2476: Childcare Services: Alternative Payment Programs would reduce some of the red tape around the way that families can employ state funds to cover child care expenses. The bill would allow providers, particularly those who serve low-income families, to be reimbursed for services upon enrollment without long delays. In the same way that school districts are required to provide instruction to students who have reached their 5th birthday, AB-1192: Kindergarten: Admission: Transitional Kindergarten: Professional Development Requirements, a bill introduced by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, proposes that charter schools would have those same admission requirements and requires at least 48 hours of professional development for TK instructors.
K-12 Teachers: Continuing Education and Career Training
Toward continuing education for K-12 teachers, Assemblymember Mike Gipson’s AB-694 Teacher Residency Apprenticeship Programs seems to shift the administration of a previously approved program so that it is housed in the Division of Apprenticeship Standards and the United States Department of Labor with standards provided by The Commission on Teacher Credentialing. To encourage career and workforce development, McCarty introduced AB-3131: California Career Technical Education Incentive Grant Program: Strong Workforce Program: Applicants Receiving Equity Multiplier Funding which “aims to provide additional funding to Career Technical Education programs that serve underrepresented and disadvantaged students, supporting workforce development and equity in education.”
Greenspace for Schools
Welcoming growth and livelihood, Gipson authored AB-1642 for School Facilities: Master Plan for Green Schoolyards: Greening Programs to bring grass and garden spaces into the educational experiences of California students. Rather than continue with TK-12 campuses that too often resemble post-industrial factories, legislators have the opportunity to revitalize student learning environments and teach sustainability practices which potentially include composting and community gardening across the state.
After-school Programs and Summer Camps
It might be surprising to most community members and educators that there is no comprehensive data currently collected on students enrolled in State funded after-school and summer learning programs. An effort to remedy this data deficit is AB-1113: The Expanded Learning Opportunities Program: The California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System: The After School Education and Safety Program: The 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program. The first component is to ensure the accuracy and collection of data for students in afterschool and summer programs. The second is to modify the way that resources for such programs are allocated across grade levels. If the bill is passed, it would require 60% of resources to be allocated to students in grades 9-12 (an increase from 50%) with 20% to middle schools, and 15% to elementary school students. The language of the bill does not explain how to account for the fact that K-8 students in California significantly outnumber 9-12 students according to the California Department of Education website. While the interest around providing more services to high school students is appropriate and necessary, this bill as introduced might create an imbalance for families who have multiple children across various age groups – especially when teens are often called upon to be caregivers afterschool for younger siblings who attend different schools.
With great sadness, we must recognize that there have been multiple mishaps and even tragedies across the state involving children at recreational camps operating with little to no government oversight. Assemblymember Christopher Holden introduced AB-262: Children’s Camps: Safety and Regulation toward the regulation of overnight camps to ensure the safety of California’s children. It includes provisions for stricter licensing, safety standards, and oversight to ensure a safe environment for children attending camps.
School Safety
Assemblymember Gipson introduced AB-2816: School Safety: School Mapping Data Grant Program that proposes “a grant program to fund the creation and maintenance of school mapping data.” As a safety precaution so that school staff and public safety workers can be fully prepared to handle an urgent situation at a school site, this program would fund the acquisition of site maps for school locations. SB-1026: School Safety: School Security Departments: Contracted Private Licensed Security Agencies, authored by State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, “seeks to enhance school safety by regulating the use of contracted private licensed security agencies within school security departments, ensuring proper training and oversight.” School units would need to specify guidelines for the use of any weapons or restraints and the language underscores that the “primary responsibility” of school administrators is deescalation.
Amendment: Appointment of Supt. of Instruction
Assemblymember McCarty has proposed an amendment to the California State Constitution. If passed, ACA-9 would change the elected position of Superintendent of Public Instruction to one that is appointed by the Governor starting January 2027.
