Community colleges: academic credit for prior military experience.
If enacted, AB 1786 would lead to a more standardized approach across California's community colleges in recognizing prior military learning for academic credit. By promoting the use of prior learning assessments, the bill seeks to facilitate a smoother transition for veterans into academic environments, allowing them to leverage their military training towards fulfilling educational requirements. Additionally, the bill requires the Chancellor to report back to the legislature by January 2020 on the implementation and impact of the initiative.
Assembly Bill 1786, introduced by Assemblymember Cervantes, aims to enhance educational opportunities for military veterans by amending the California Education Code to improve the awarding of academic credits for prior military experience. The legislation mandates the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to establish an initiative by March 2019 that expands the use of course credits for students with documented prior learning. This initiative is intended to identify best practices and develop resources to aid in the recognition of military training and experience within the community college system.
General sentiment towards AB 1786 appears positive among education advocates and veterans' organizations, who see it as a crucial step in supporting veterans' education and acknowledging the value of their service. However, concerns have been raised regarding the effective implementation of the initiative and ensuring that all colleges participate uniformly. The bill is mostly presented as a measure to enhance access to education for veterans, framing it as beneficial for both individuals and the educational system as a whole.
Notable points of contention include the potential challenges in uniformly implementing the initiative across various community colleges. Questions remain about how credits for military training will be evaluated and whether the resources allocated for this initiative will be sufficient to meet the diverse needs of veteran students. Additionally, discussions around the definition of 'prior learning' and the standards used to assess this learning may lead to differing opinions on the effectiveness of the law once it is operational.