Assemblymember Chris Holden’s legislation to provide high school students with access to community colleges for college level coursework, career tech education or to help high school students improve their college readiness has been approved in the Senate Education Committee.
AB 288 would create a partnership between high schools and community colleges to allow a broader range of students to take college-level courses at their high schools or on college campuses – what is known as concurrent or dual enrollment. It would increase the number of classes students could take and gives limited priority enrollment to those students.
“There is a growing awareness that many graduating high school students are not adequately prepared for college courses,” explained Assemblyman Holden. “These students, mostly low-income, struggle in remedial classes that can set them back for years to come. Concurrent enrollment opens doors for these students by providing a pathway to college and a sense that they belong on a college campus.”
AB 288 has strong bi-partisan support and is jointly authored by Assembly Minority Leader Kristin Olsen. It is backed by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, The California Community League, The California Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Community College District, Los Rios Community College District, Pasadena Community College District, the Orange County Business Council CA NAACP, Ed Source, Sacramento Pathways to Success, among many others.
