California Senate Bill SB1143 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 1143AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 5, 2010 INTRODUCED BY Senator Liu FEBRUARY 18, 2010 An act  to add Section 84502 to the Education Code,  relating to community college funding. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1143, as amended, Liu. Community college funding. Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state.  Existing law establishes a system of funding community colleges pursuant to which calculations based on the number of full-time equivalent students (FTES) enrolled in classes at the colleges are a major factor.   This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to establish a framework for allocating state funds to community colleges in a manner that provides incentives for community colleges to assist students in completing coursework in which they enroll and coursework that is required to earn a certificate or degree. The bill would also express legislative findings and declarations relating to the rate of degree completion among community college students in this state.   This bill would require the board of governors to calculate FTES using the average active enrollment in a course as of a specified census date and at course completion. The bill would authorize the board of governors to adopt an alternative and equivalent calculation method for designated types of courses. The bill would require that a decrease in FTES in a district that is due solely to a change in calculation required by this bill shall not result in a reduction in the general apportionment made to that district prior to the 2012-13 fiscal year. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) The low rate of degree completion among community college students is threatening California's economic future. (b) In order to reach the education levels of the most competitive economies, the number of students earning college degrees in California each year must increase by more than 50 percent. (c) Over 70 percent of public undergraduate enrollment in California is in the community colleges. (d) Only 24 percent of degree-seeking students complete a certificate or associate degree or transfer to a four-year college or university within six years. (e) Under current law, community colleges receive most of their annual funds based on student enrollment in the third week of each semester. (f) This method of allocating funds creates an incentive for community colleges to enroll students, but no fiscal incentive for those colleges to help students complete their courses and earn degrees. Currently, only about 60 percent of community college courses are successfully completed. (g) Many of today's community college students require extensive academic and student support services to remain enrolled and succeed. Community colleges lack the resources and the incentives to invest in this level of student support.  SEC. 2.   It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to establish a framework for allocating state funds to community colleges in a manner that provides incentives for community colleges to assist students in completing coursework in which they enroll and coursework that is required to earn a certificate or degree.   SEC. 2.   Section 84502 is added to the   Education Code   , to read:   84502. The rules and regulations prescribed pursuant to Section 84500 shall calculate full-time equivalent student enrollment using the average active enrollment in a course as of the census date at the one-fifth point and at course completion. (a) The board of governors may adopt an alternative and equivalent calculation method for the following: (1) Short term credit courses. (2) Irregularly scheduled credit courses. (3) Open entry/open exit courses. (4) In-service training courses. (5) Noncredit courses, except for distance education courses. (6) Apprenticeship classes of related and supplemental instruction. (7) Tutoring courses. (b) The board shall adopt one or more weighting factors for the full-time equivalent students (FTES) calculation in order to ensure that districts do not have a disincentive to enroll students from demographic groups with historically lower rates of course completion. (c) A decrease in the FTES of a district that is due solely to the change in calculation required by this section shall not result in a reduction of revenue apportioned to that district pursuant to Section 84750.5 prior to the 2012-13 fiscal year.