Recent bills signed into law support work-based learning, dual enrollment and the ability of community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees that meet regional workforce needs. These are:
-
- AB 2466 enables use of regional Strong Workforce Program (SWP) funds to support paid work-based learning. This removes barriers to students, supporting them to participate in meaningful work-based learning opportunities while earning income to help meet basic needs.
- AB 1871 supports students in CCAP dual enrollment by removing the requirement for principal approval and eliminating the four-course term limit while maintaining the existing unit cap. It also improves data collection and reporting to ensure the state can evaluate outcomes. The bill was sponsored by Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) and supported by EdTrust-West and the Dual Enrollment Coalition of California.
- Two pieces of legislation, SB 960 and AB 2694, remove the ban on community colleges offering degrees that duplicate programs at CSU and UC. Last-minute amendments to the bills established a formal system for enabling community college baccalaureate degree programs based on regional workforce needs and college performance measures. Although there are concerns about the system’s framework, the new policy promises to expand student access to bachelor’s degrees in high-demand areas, promoting economic mobility for Californians. For more details, see this EdSource article.