Statement on the California Budget: Investments in Equitable Placement and Completion at Community Colleges Will Benefit Students

Sacramento, CA – As a diverse coalition of higher education advocacy, civil rights, social justice, workforce, and student leadership organizations committed to educational equity and student success, we applaud Governor Newsom and the Legislature’s commitment to investing in equitable placement and completion at California community colleges that will support over 1.8 million students attending one of our state’s 116 community colleges.

In particular, we are grateful for the $64 million investment in the 2022-23 California state budget that will directly support the implementation of equitable placement and assessment policy (AB 705, 2017). In addition, we applaud the approximately $3.9 million ongoing (2022-23) and $1.4 million ongoing (2024-25) for increased staff capacity within the Community College Chancellor’s Office to support the needed oversight and implementation of key efforts to improve student success and close racial equity gaps.

Redesigning course offerings and embracing new, innovative instructional models is critical work for faculty and administrators and requires appropriate investment and support from the state. This substantial investment is key to supporting faculty and campus leaders in implementing AB 705 and ensuring that faculty and students have the tools necessary to succeed. This investment will support colleges, faculty, counselors, and administrators to implement best practices in course design and effective concurrent student support models, bringing us one step closer to full implementation of AB 705 by fall 2022.

Prioritizing direct financial resources for equitable placement and completion policy, while developing a plan for moving away from standalone remedial courses, will ensure that student completion gains continue to improve, racial/ethnic equity gaps close, and that college success is a reality for all students across our state.