The Legislature appropriated $115 million to the California Community Colleges in the 2021 Budget Act in one-time funding for the Zero-Textbook-Cost Degree Grant (ZTC) program. The program intends to “reduce the overall cost of education for students and decrease the time it takes students to complete degree programs offered by community colleges.” Specifically, the funding is being used to develop and implement zero cost or low-cost degrees or CTC certificates.
The statute mandates that the Chancellor’s Office shall ensure that a grant does not result in the development or implementation of duplicate degrees and that it results in the greatest number of degrees to benefit the greatest number of students. It includes additional specific requirements, including program prioritization, sustainability, content adaptability, location for content curation, implementation approach, and implementation period.
Of the funding appropriated, the Chancellor’s Office shall distribute no more than $200K per degree or CTE certificate developed and implemented at a college, and no more than $20K may be allocated per course for the development and curation of Open Educational Resources (OER) material.
Legislation: Education Code Section 78050-78052 –Zero-Textbook-Cost Degree Grant Program
Grants and Allocations
ZTC Planning Grant: In July 2022, the initial allocation of $20K for colleges to research and plan how to implement ZTC pathways at their institution was distributed through district apportionment in July 2022.
ZTC Implementation Grant: In March 2023, colleges were allocated $180,000 through district apportionment to design, develop, and pilot at least one ZTC degree pathway offering.
ZTC Acceleration Grant(s): By December 2023, 87 colleges had received grants of $22M to support over 300 programs converting to ZTC. ZTC Program Pathways must be developed and implemented by the Fall 2026 semester.
Acceleration II Grants: ($200,000 capped per eligible program, not per college) continue ZTC Degree Grant Program investment for pathways that are unique to a college and have not been awarded (specifically in a region) in prior phases.
Impact Grants: ($200,000 capped per eligible program, not per college) support high impact programs that benefit larger numbers of students at the institution that are likely duplicative and must leverage the efforts and materials from the ZTC Acceleration Grant’s Coordination Cohorts upon validation of completion by the Open Educational Resources Initiative (OERI).
OER Expansion Grants: ($20,000 capped per eligible course, not per program or college) provide additional OER curation support for courses that can enhance the scale and impact of existing ZTC program pathways. Courses must not have been identified in prior ZTC Degree Grant Program plans to be eligible for OER conversion.
Reporting and Deadlines
- By December 2023, 87 colleges had received approvals for over $22 million in Acceleration grant funds to develop and implement over 300 ZTC program pathways state-wide
- Spring 2024, Collaboration Cohorts initiated for inter-collegiate ZTC development efforts. ZTC Acceleration II and ZTC OER Expansion program plans released in NOVA.
- Summer 2024, ZTC Impact Grant released in NOVA
- December 2024, first ZTC Implementation Grant and Acceleration Grant expenditure and progress reports are due in NOVA
- Fall 2025, Implementation grant program pathways must be implemented and available for student enrollment
- December 2025, first ZTC Acceleration II, ZTC Impact & ZTC OER Expansion progress reports and expenditure reports due in NOVA; second ZTC Implementation Grant and Acceleration Grant expenditure and progress reports are due in NOVA; Implementation Grant funds expenditure deadline
- Fall 2026, ZTC Acceleration, Acceleration II, OER Expansion and Impact grant program pathways must be implemented and available for student enrollment
- December 2026, final ZTC Implementation, Acceleration Grant, Acceleration II, OER Expansion and Impact Grants expenditures and progress reports are due in NOVA; Acceleration, Acceleration II, OER Expansion and Impact Grant funds expenditure deadline
Reporting Chart
| Grant type | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planning Grant (formerly known as Phase I) $20K |
Expenditure Report NOVA 6/30/23 |
- | - | - |
| Implementation Grant* (formerly known as Phase 3) $180K |
Expenditure Report NOVA 6/30/23 |
Progress & Expenditure Report 1 NOVA 12/31/24 |
ZTC Pathway Implemented Fall 2025 Progress & Expenditure Report 2 NOVA 12/31/25 |
Final Report** & Final Expenditure Report NOVA 12/31/26 |
| Acceleration Grant (formerly known as Phase 2) up to $200K per pathway |
Intent to Apply & Program Plan NOVA 9/15/23 |
Progress & Expenditure Report 1 NOVA 12/31/24 |
Progress & Expenditure Report 2 NOVA 12/31/25 |
ZTC Pathway Implemented Fall 2026 Final Report** & Final Expenditure Report NOVA 12/31/26 |
| Acceleration II Grant up to $200K per pathway |
Program Plan NOVA 4/29/24 – 12/16/24 |
- | Progress & Expenditure Report 1 NOVA 12/31/25 |
ZTC Pathway Implemented Fall 2026 Final Report** & Final Expenditure Report NOVA 12/31/26 |
| Impact Grant up to $200K per pathway |
Program Plan NOVA 7/8/24 – 12/16/24 |
- | Progress & Expenditure Report 1 NOVA 12/31/25 |
ZTC Pathway Implemented Fall 2026 Final Report** & Final Expenditure Report NOVA 12/31/26 |
| OER Expansion Grant up to $20K per course being added to a ZTC pathway |
Program Plan NOVA 7/8/24 – 12/16/24 |
- | Progress & Expenditure Report 1 NOVA 12/31/25 |
ZTC Pathway Implemented Fall 2026 Final Report** & Final Expenditure Report NOVA 12/31/26 |
* For Implementation Grant, the Program Plan and the annual reports specified in the table above supersedes reporting and completion requirements in prior memos.
** XB-12 data is due three times per year, 30 days after each term ends. Data beyond XB-12 will be necessary to meet ZTC data reporting requirements.
ZTC Grant Program Office Hours:
The Zero Textbook Office hour is held on the last Friday of each month from 9:00am – 10:00am. Join ZTC Office hours.
ZTC Technical Assistance
For technical assistance, professional development, coaching, and assistance finding relevant OER and understanding open licensing, please contact ztctap@canyons.edu or see ztctap.org.
Collaboration Cohorts: Colleges ready to develop and implement ZTC pathways in a potentially duplicative subject matter area formed cohorts facilitated by the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) OERI. When a cohort is completed, the OERI posts the report to the Acceleration Grant Collaboration Cohort Outcomes web page. The cohorts support other colleges by:
- Aligning best practices for materials development via virtual meetings
- Amplifying and celebrating successes via in-person convening
- Documenting colleges' materials and supporting collaboration opportunities
- Providing reports that colleges use as a guide to avoid duplication of effort during ZTC pathway development
Coaching Services: Experienced leaders from California Community Colleges will provide:
- Individual engagement with colleges
- Assistance in developing a local plan utilizing a template
Courses
For Professional Development support (beginning Summer 2023 and continuing in subsequent semesters) in collaboration with California Virtual Campus’s @ONE, the following four-week, facilitated online courses will be offered:
- “Making the Case for ZTC: Pathways to Equity”
- “Building a Team: Training OER Support Specialists”
- “Teaching with OER and Open Pedagogy for Equity”
Visit the California Virtual Campus Online Network of Educators to sign up for courses.
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Zero Textbook Cost Program Awardees
View colleges that have received Implementation Grant awards and Acceleration Grant awards to implement Zero-Textbook Cost (ZTC) program pathways at their institutions.
