Press Release

Pathway to College: Assembly Higher Education Committee Passes Newman’s Dual Enrollment Bill

June 19, 2024

Sacramento, Calif. — Senate Bill 1244 (SB 1244) made progress on Wednesday after being approved by the Assembly Higher Education Committee in an 8-0 vote. The bill, from Senate Education Committee Chair Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), will broaden access to community college courses for high school through expanded access to dual enrollment programs.

Dual enrollment programs allow high school students to earn college credit while still enrolled in high school. Research from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) show that dual enrollment participation is associated with a number of benefits for high school students, including:

Early college credits: Earning college credits early reduces the time and cost of a college education, making it more accessible. ^[1]
Enhanced readiness: Dual enrollment exposes more students to the rigor and expectations of college-level work, preparing students early for the transition from high school. ^[1]
Exploration of academic interests: Community colleges offer a variety of courses to help students identify different academic paths and potential majors before committing to university programs. ^[1]
Higher rates of success: Studies show dual enrollment students are more likely to graduate from college on time with improved college GPAs and overall academic achievement. ^[2]

SB 1244 will expand dual enrollment opportunities for students by enhancing the ability of school districts to enter into College and Career Access Pathway (CCAP) partnerships with other community college districts if the community college district in which the school is located is unable or unwilling to enter into such an agreement.

“SB 1244 ensures that a school district will have more than one option for extending those benefits to its students,” said Senator Newman. “This bill streamlines the process for school districts to collaborate effectively and will facilitate greater access to rewarding dual enrollment programs for high school students across California.”

“As a former trustee for the community colleges, [dual enrollment] was a great opportunity to connect and partner up with multiple K-12 school districts within the area to provide and expand higher education opportunities,” said Assembly Higher Education Committee Chair Mike Fong (D-Alhambra) during the hearing. “Every student should have access to dual enrollment – it shouldn’t be limited to the zip code in which they reside.”

Despite community colleges being located in every county and the state’s goal to increase dual enrollment by 15% over the next three years, local districts have often struggled to receive collaborative engagement from community college districts on CCAP agreements. SB 1244 would remove these obstacles by promoting greater flexibility and collaboration between schools and community colleges.

With its passage out of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, SB 1244 now advances to the Assembly Education Committee.

To schedule an interview with Senator Newman, contact Brian Wheatley at 916.651.4029.

###

State Senator Josh Newman represents the 29th Senate District, which is comprised of portions of Los Angeles County, Orange County, and San Bernardino County. The 29th District includes all or parts of the cities of Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Chino Hills, City of Industry, Cypress, Diamond Bar, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, Placentia, Rowland Heights, Stanton, Walnut, West Covina and Yorba Linda. Senator Newman is a former United States Army officer, businessperson, and veterans’ advocate, and lives in Fullerton with his wife and daughter.

^[1]Rodriguez, Olga, et al. “Policy Brief: Dual Enrollment in California.” Public Policy Institute of California, 6 Nov. 2023, www.ppic.org/publication/policy-brief-dual-enrollment-in-california/.

^[2] Rhine, Luke. “The Power of Dual Enrollment: The Equitable Expansion of College Access and Success.” U.S. Department of Education Ed.gov Blog, 31 Aug. 2022, blog.ed.gov/2022/09/the-power-of-dual-enrollment-the-equitable-expansion-of-college-access-and-success/.

Pathway to College: Assembly Higher Education Committee Passes Newman’s Dual Enrollment Bill

###

^[1]Rodriguez, Olga, et al. “Policy Brief: Dual Enrollment in California.” Public Policy Institute of California, 6 Nov. 2023, www.ppic.org/publication/policy-brief-dual-enrollment-in-california/.

^[2] Rhine, Luke. “The Power of Dual Enrollment: The Equitable Expansion of College Access and Success.” U.S. Department of Education Ed.gov Blog, 31 Aug. 2022, blog.ed.gov/2022/09/the-power-of-dual-enrollment-the-equitable-expansion-of-college-access-and-success/.

Office Information

Capitol Office

District Office

Pathway to College: Assembly Higher Education Committee Passes Newman’s Dual Enrollment Bill

###

[1] Rodriguez, Olga, et al. “Policy Brief: Dual Enrollment in California.” Public Policy Institute of California, 6 Nov. 2023, www.ppic.org/publication/policy-brief-dual-enrollment-in-california/.

[2] Rhine, Luke. “The Power of Dual Enrollment: The Equitable Expansion of College Access and Success.” U.S. Department of Education Ed.gov Blog, 31 Aug. 2022, blog.ed.gov/2022/09/the-power-of-dual-enrollment-the-equitable-expansion-of-college-access-and-success/.

^[1]Rodriguez, Olga, et al. “Policy Brief: Dual Enrollment in California.” Public Policy Institute of California, 6 Nov. 2023, www.ppic.org/publication/policy-brief-dual-enrollment-in-california/.

^[2] Rhine, Luke. “The Power of Dual Enrollment: The Equitable Expansion of College Access and Success.” U.S. Department of Education Ed.gov Blog, 31 Aug. 2022, blog.ed.gov/2022/09/the-power-of-dual-enrollment-the-equitable-expansion-of-college-access-and-success/.