Community colleges: Los Angeles County Community Colleges Common Course Numbering Pilot Project.
If enacted, the bill will require the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to form a task force made up of various designated community college districts within Los Angeles County. This task force is given the responsibility to develop a common course numbering system for the specified subjects to facilitate uniformity in course offerings and to help students easily identify equivalent courses across different colleges. The expected completion date for the task force's work is set for December 31, 2021, followed by a mandate to report their findings to the Legislature by March 31, 2022.
Senate Bill No. 1155, introduced by Senator Hertzberg, aims to establish the Los Angeles County Community Colleges Common Course Numbering Pilot Project. This bill is set against a backdrop of existing state regulations that govern postsecondary education in California, specifically under the administration of the California Community Colleges and the California State University. The bill seeks to enhance student transferability and course recognition among community colleges by creating a standardized course numbering system, initially focusing on mathematics and language arts.
There may be varying opinions on the implementation of a common course numbering system. Supporters argue that this initiative promotes clarity for students transiting between colleges and can lead to a more straightforward academic experience, potentially resulting in higher completion rates. However, detractors might raise concerns about the limitations this might impose on academic flexibility, arguing that different institutions have varied missions and curriculum designs that a standardized system might not adequately encompass.