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AB-934 • 2026

Community colleges: degrees and certificates: education plans.

Community colleges: degrees and certificates: education plans.

Education Taxes
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Berman
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact implementation details for education plans and notification processes remain unspecified in the provided sources.

Community Colleges: Degrees and Certificates

This law aims to ensure that community college students receive their degrees or certificates on time by requiring colleges to identify eligible students and provide them with education plans.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Board of Governors to mandate all community colleges to award degrees and certificates retroactively for students who have completed degree requirements.
  • Commencing from the 2026–27 academic year, community colleges must identify students who are close to completing their degree or certificate requirements before each spring term and notify them accordingly.
  • Starting in September 2026, new and returning students at community colleges must receive education plans within their first academic year.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Community college students in California
  • California Community Colleges

Terms To Know

Education Plan
A plan that helps students choose classes and reach their goals for school, like getting a degree or certificate.
State-Mandated Local Program
When the state tells local schools what they must do, even if it costs money.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much extra work this will cost community colleges.
  • It is unclear when exactly the new rules about education plans for students will start.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2026-01-31 California Legislative Information

    Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Held under submission.

  4. 2025-05-07 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  5. 2025-04-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  6. 2025-03-25 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.

  7. 2025-03-24 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HIGHER ED. Read second time and amended.

  8. 2025-03-24 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.

  9. 2025-02-20 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.

  10. 2025-02-19 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 934, as amended, Berman.
Postsecondary education: student access and success.
Community colleges: degrees and certificates: education plans.
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.
This bill would require the board of governors to require all community colleges to award degrees and certificates retroactively in accordance with specified provisions. The bill would require, commencing with the 2026–27 academic year, a community college, before the beginning of the spring term of the academic year, to identify students who, during the previous 5 academic years, (1) have completed the semester or quarter units required to receive a degree or certificate, (2) need 12 semester units or 18 quarter units, or less, to complete the minimum number of units required to receive a degree or certificate, or (3) have completed the general education transfer requirements, and to notify those students, as provided.
This bill would require, beginning in September 2026, a community college to annually identify and notify
new and returning students who do not have an education plan and ensure that the students identified receive education plans before the end of their first academic year, as provided.
By imposing additional duties on community colleges, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF