CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 934Introduced by Assembly Member BermanFebruary 19, 2025 An act relating to postsecondary education. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 934, as introduced, Berman. Postsecondary education: student access and success. Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of postsecondary education in this state. Existing law, the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012, provides that the purpose of the act is to increase California community college student access and success by providing effective core matriculation services of orientation, assessment and placement, counseling, and other education planning services, and academic interventions.This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that ensures timely completion of student comprehensive education plans and identifies current and former community college students who have completed degree or certificate requirements and award those degrees and certificates. The bill would make related findings and declarations.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) California needs to support students seeking to earn baccalaureate degrees, associates degrees, or certificates to align to our states evolving workforce development demands.(b) The California Community Colleges are the states largest workforce provider, offering associate degrees and short-term job training certificates in more than 175 different fields.(c) Meeting the current and future need for higher education requires improving success rates with current students and attracting and graduating individuals from groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in higher education.(d) By 2031, approximately 72 percent of jobs nationally will require higher education and training. Failure to make significant improvements in certificate or degree completion will result in a less productive economy, lower incomes for residents, less tax revenue for the state, and more dependence on social services.(e) Earning a certificate or degree from a community college adds between $5,000 and $11,100 to an individuals wages compared to workers with only high school diplomas.(f) Since the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Chapter 624 of the Statutes of 2012) was enacted, California Community Colleges have been mandated to work with students to develop an education plan leading to a course of study and guidance on course selection that is informed by, and related to, a students academic and career goals.(g) As of 2024, and required by the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021 (Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021), students that start at a community college and declare a goal of transfer in order to earn a baccalaureate degree are placed by default on an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) pathway if one exists in their major of study. This ADT pathway placement is facilitated through the existing student comprehensive education plans.(h) Statewide coordinated efforts to improve access to higher education and career education for adult learners and Californians with some college credits accrued but no degree or certificate awarded are underway through the Master Plan for Career Education.(i) California should bolster existing efforts to advance educational access and success.SEC. 2. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that does both of the following:(a) Ensures timely completion of student comprehensive education plans.(b) Identifies current and former community college students who have completed degree or certificate requirements and award those degrees and certificates.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 934Introduced by Assembly Member BermanFebruary 19, 2025 An act relating to postsecondary education. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 934, as introduced, Berman. Postsecondary education: student access and success. Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of postsecondary education in this state. Existing law, the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012, provides that the purpose of the act is to increase California community college student access and success by providing effective core matriculation services of orientation, assessment and placement, counseling, and other education planning services, and academic interventions.This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that ensures timely completion of student comprehensive education plans and identifies current and former community college students who have completed degree or certificate requirements and award those degrees and certificates. The bill would make related findings and declarations.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 934
Introduced by Assembly Member BermanFebruary 19, 2025
Introduced by Assembly Member Berman
February 19, 2025
An act relating to postsecondary education.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 934, as introduced, Berman. Postsecondary education: student access and success.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of postsecondary education in this state. Existing law, the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012, provides that the purpose of the act is to increase California community college student access and success by providing effective core matriculation services of orientation, assessment and placement, counseling, and other education planning services, and academic interventions.This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that ensures timely completion of student comprehensive education plans and identifies current and former community college students who have completed degree or certificate requirements and award those degrees and certificates. The bill would make related findings and declarations.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of postsecondary education in this state. Existing law, the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012, provides that the purpose of the act is to increase California community college student access and success by providing effective core matriculation services of orientation, assessment and placement, counseling, and other education planning services, and academic interventions.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that ensures timely completion of student comprehensive education plans and identifies current and former community college students who have completed degree or certificate requirements and award those degrees and certificates. The bill would make related findings and declarations.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) California needs to support students seeking to earn baccalaureate degrees, associates degrees, or certificates to align to our states evolving workforce development demands.(b) The California Community Colleges are the states largest workforce provider, offering associate degrees and short-term job training certificates in more than 175 different fields.(c) Meeting the current and future need for higher education requires improving success rates with current students and attracting and graduating individuals from groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in higher education.(d) By 2031, approximately 72 percent of jobs nationally will require higher education and training. Failure to make significant improvements in certificate or degree completion will result in a less productive economy, lower incomes for residents, less tax revenue for the state, and more dependence on social services.(e) Earning a certificate or degree from a community college adds between $5,000 and $11,100 to an individuals wages compared to workers with only high school diplomas.(f) Since the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Chapter 624 of the Statutes of 2012) was enacted, California Community Colleges have been mandated to work with students to develop an education plan leading to a course of study and guidance on course selection that is informed by, and related to, a students academic and career goals.(g) As of 2024, and required by the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021 (Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021), students that start at a community college and declare a goal of transfer in order to earn a baccalaureate degree are placed by default on an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) pathway if one exists in their major of study. This ADT pathway placement is facilitated through the existing student comprehensive education plans.(h) Statewide coordinated efforts to improve access to higher education and career education for adult learners and Californians with some college credits accrued but no degree or certificate awarded are underway through the Master Plan for Career Education.(i) California should bolster existing efforts to advance educational access and success.SEC. 2. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that does both of the following:(a) Ensures timely completion of student comprehensive education plans.(b) Identifies current and former community college students who have completed degree or certificate requirements and award those degrees and certificates.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) California needs to support students seeking to earn baccalaureate degrees, associates degrees, or certificates to align to our states evolving workforce development demands.(b) The California Community Colleges are the states largest workforce provider, offering associate degrees and short-term job training certificates in more than 175 different fields.(c) Meeting the current and future need for higher education requires improving success rates with current students and attracting and graduating individuals from groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in higher education.(d) By 2031, approximately 72 percent of jobs nationally will require higher education and training. Failure to make significant improvements in certificate or degree completion will result in a less productive economy, lower incomes for residents, less tax revenue for the state, and more dependence on social services.(e) Earning a certificate or degree from a community college adds between $5,000 and $11,100 to an individuals wages compared to workers with only high school diplomas.(f) Since the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Chapter 624 of the Statutes of 2012) was enacted, California Community Colleges have been mandated to work with students to develop an education plan leading to a course of study and guidance on course selection that is informed by, and related to, a students academic and career goals.(g) As of 2024, and required by the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021 (Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021), students that start at a community college and declare a goal of transfer in order to earn a baccalaureate degree are placed by default on an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) pathway if one exists in their major of study. This ADT pathway placement is facilitated through the existing student comprehensive education plans.(h) Statewide coordinated efforts to improve access to higher education and career education for adult learners and Californians with some college credits accrued but no degree or certificate awarded are underway through the Master Plan for Career Education.(i) California should bolster existing efforts to advance educational access and success.
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) California needs to support students seeking to earn baccalaureate degrees, associates degrees, or certificates to align to our states evolving workforce development demands.(b) The California Community Colleges are the states largest workforce provider, offering associate degrees and short-term job training certificates in more than 175 different fields.(c) Meeting the current and future need for higher education requires improving success rates with current students and attracting and graduating individuals from groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in higher education.(d) By 2031, approximately 72 percent of jobs nationally will require higher education and training. Failure to make significant improvements in certificate or degree completion will result in a less productive economy, lower incomes for residents, less tax revenue for the state, and more dependence on social services.(e) Earning a certificate or degree from a community college adds between $5,000 and $11,100 to an individuals wages compared to workers with only high school diplomas.(f) Since the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Chapter 624 of the Statutes of 2012) was enacted, California Community Colleges have been mandated to work with students to develop an education plan leading to a course of study and guidance on course selection that is informed by, and related to, a students academic and career goals.(g) As of 2024, and required by the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021 (Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021), students that start at a community college and declare a goal of transfer in order to earn a baccalaureate degree are placed by default on an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) pathway if one exists in their major of study. This ADT pathway placement is facilitated through the existing student comprehensive education plans.(h) Statewide coordinated efforts to improve access to higher education and career education for adult learners and Californians with some college credits accrued but no degree or certificate awarded are underway through the Master Plan for Career Education.(i) California should bolster existing efforts to advance educational access and success.
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
### SECTION 1.
(a) California needs to support students seeking to earn baccalaureate degrees, associates degrees, or certificates to align to our states evolving workforce development demands.
(b) The California Community Colleges are the states largest workforce provider, offering associate degrees and short-term job training certificates in more than 175 different fields.
(c) Meeting the current and future need for higher education requires improving success rates with current students and attracting and graduating individuals from groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in higher education.
(d) By 2031, approximately 72 percent of jobs nationally will require higher education and training. Failure to make significant improvements in certificate or degree completion will result in a less productive economy, lower incomes for residents, less tax revenue for the state, and more dependence on social services.
(e) Earning a certificate or degree from a community college adds between $5,000 and $11,100 to an individuals wages compared to workers with only high school diplomas.
(f) Since the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Chapter 624 of the Statutes of 2012) was enacted, California Community Colleges have been mandated to work with students to develop an education plan leading to a course of study and guidance on course selection that is informed by, and related to, a students academic and career goals.
(g) As of 2024, and required by the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021 (Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021), students that start at a community college and declare a goal of transfer in order to earn a baccalaureate degree are placed by default on an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) pathway if one exists in their major of study. This ADT pathway placement is facilitated through the existing student comprehensive education plans.
(h) Statewide coordinated efforts to improve access to higher education and career education for adult learners and Californians with some college credits accrued but no degree or certificate awarded are underway through the Master Plan for Career Education.
(i) California should bolster existing efforts to advance educational access and success.
SEC. 2. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that does both of the following:(a) Ensures timely completion of student comprehensive education plans.(b) Identifies current and former community college students who have completed degree or certificate requirements and award those degrees and certificates.
SEC. 2. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that does both of the following:(a) Ensures timely completion of student comprehensive education plans.(b) Identifies current and former community college students who have completed degree or certificate requirements and award those degrees and certificates.
SEC. 2. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that does both of the following:
### SEC. 2.
(a) Ensures timely completion of student comprehensive education plans.
(b) Identifies current and former community college students who have completed degree or certificate requirements and award those degrees and certificates.