Plain English Breakdown
The effective date is unknown as it depends on executive action or statutory provisions not listed in the provided text.
AB-934: Community College Degrees and Education Plans
This law requires California community colleges to award degrees retroactively for work completed in the last five years, identify students close to finishing their requirements, and ensure new or returning students without a plan receive one within their first academic year.
What This Bill Does
- Requires the Board of Governors to direct all community colleges to award degrees and certificates retroactively based on specific rules.
- Starting in the 2026–27 school year, requires colleges to identify students from the previous five years who have finished required units, need very few more classes (12 semester or 18 quarter units) to finish, or have met general education transfer requirements before each spring term begins.
- Requires colleges to send notices to these identified students about their status.
- Starting in September 2026, requires colleges to annually find new and returning students who do not have an education plan and make sure they get one by the end of their first academic year.
- States that the Legislature intends to pass future laws to help ensure timely completion of student plans and award earned degrees.
Who It Names or Affects
- California community colleges
- The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges
- Current students who are close to finishing their degree or certificate requirements
- Former students from the last five years who completed all required units but did not receive a diploma
Terms To Know
- Retroactively
- Giving something, like a degree, for work that was finished in the past.
- Education plan
- A written schedule of classes and goals to help a student finish their degree or certificate on time.
- State-mandated local program
- New rules that the state requires local schools to follow, which may cost money for those schools.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill does not set a specific date when it officially becomes law.
- Future laws are needed to fully carry out some of the goals mentioned in this bill's intent statement.
- Reimbursement for costs depends on whether the Commission on State Mandates decides these new duties cost money.