Community colleges: California College Promise.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about funding amounts or what happens if other financial aid programs use the same name. Additionally, it is unclear when this bill would take effect after being signed into law.

California College Promise: Changes in Eligibility and Requirements

This law changes the requirements for students to qualify for the California College Promise, which helps pay college fees, by lowering the number of units needed from 12 to 9.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the eligibility requirement for the California College Promise so that students need only be enrolled in 9 or more semester units instead of 12.
• Requires community colleges and districts not to use the name 'California College Promise' for any other financial aid programs.
• Requires community colleges to give written information to new recipients about their eligibility period under the California College Promise.

Who It Names or Affects

• Community college students, especially those enrolled in less than 12 units per semester.
• Disabled students who need special accommodations and are certified by their colleges' disability support staff.

Terms To Know

California College Promise

A program that helps pay for college fees for eligible community college students in California.

semester units

The number of credits a student earns by completing a course at a college or university, usually based on the amount of time spent in class each week.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify how much funding will be provided for this program.
• Does not explain what happens if other financial aid programs are already using the name 'California College Promise'.
• The bill does not state when it would take effect after being signed into law.

Official Summary Text

AB 537, as amended, Ahrens.
Community colleges: California College Promise.
Existing law establishes the California College Promise, under the administration of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, to provide funding, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to each community college meeting prescribed requirements. Existing law authorizes a community college to use that funding to waive some or all of the fees for 2 academic years for first-time community college students and returning community college students, as defined, who are enrolled in 12 or more semester units or the equivalent, or less for students certified as “full time” by a staff person in the disabled student services program, as specified, and who complete and submit either a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or a California Dream Act application, except as provided.
This bill would instead require, for purposes of eligibility
for the California College Promise, that students be enrolled in 9 or more, rather than 12 or more, semester units or the equivalent, or less for a student certified as eligible, based on a commitment by the student that is analogous to the 9 semester unit or equivalent workload, by a staff person in the disabled student services program. The bill would additionally require, as a condition of participating in, and receiving funding for, the California College Promise, community colleges and community college districts to refrain from referring to any other student financial aid funding or program as the California College
Promise.
Promise, and require community colleges to provide a written notification to initial recipients of the California College Promise that includes specified information related to the 2 academic years of eligibility
for the California College Promise.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF