September 30, 2022
Contact: Melissa Villarin
Office: 916-327-5365
Office E-mail: MVillarin@CCCCO.edu
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Community Colleges Interim Chancellor Daisy Gonzales has issued the following statement on Gov. Gavin Newsom signing Assembly Bill 1705 (Irwin) into law:
“We are thrilled to be part of this historic moment for our students. Assembly Bill (AB) 1705 moves the California Community Colleges one step closer to closing equity gaps by ensuring students are enrolled by default in transfer-level courses – and provided the tools they need to succeed. This new law will save students money and shorten their time-to-degree.
We are grateful to Gov. Newsom for signing this transformative legislation that will advance student success and further the goals of the Roadmap for the Future. By reforming remedial education and expanding access to tutoring, millions of Californians will complete their education faster. We thank the many student and campus leaders who advocated for these changes and stand ready to continue to lead the nation in an equitable recovery for higher education.
We want to also extend our gratitude to Assembly Member Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) and coauthor, Assembly Member Jose Medina (D-Riverside), for sponsoring this important legislation; to Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis for co-sponsoring this critical effort; to the Legislature for their support in passing it; and to community leaders for their ongoing support. Most of all, we cannot thank enough our students – student-led groups like the Student Senate for California Community Colleges and Students Making A Change have been vocal and powerful advocates for these much-needed reforms.
Assembly Bill 705 was a great start as the California Community Colleges became the largest college system to end the flawed, high stakes student-placement assessments, and provide students direct access to transfer-level English and math with necessary supports. AB 1705 strengthens these existing requirements and clarifies the placement practices for students whose major, degree, or educational goal require, or are best supported by, transfer-level courses. We have a responsibility to support students by replacing remedial courses with appropriate academic supports. This new law will help us fulfill that mission.”
Interim Chancellor Gonzales also praised the governor’s signing of Assembly Bill 1187, also by Asm. Irwin:
“The Vision for Success commits our system to pairing high expectations with high support, and tutoring is a critical part of that support. AB 1187 strengthens and enhances AB 1705, by expanding access to supervised tutoring.”
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 116 colleges serving 1.8 million students per year. California community colleges provide career education and workforce training; guaranteed transfer to four-year universities; and degree and certificate pathways. As the state’s engine for social and economic mobility, the California Community Colleges supports the Vision for Success, a strategic plan designed to improve student success outcomes, increase transfer rates and eliminate achievement gaps. For more information, please visit the California Community Colleges website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
###
