California postsecondary education: state goals.

Existing law establishes the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes a higher education accountability program under which the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges are required to prepare a list of reports on a regular basis and present those reports to the Legislature and to state agencies. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature that budget and policy decisions regarding postsecondary education generally adhere to 3 specified goals. The bill would also state the intent of the Legislature to identify and define appropriate metrics in order to monitor progress toward the achievement of those 3 goals and establish interim targets for those metrics to be achieved by 2025. The bill would require the Legislative Analyst's Office to convene a working group to develop those metrics, and any recommended interim targets for those metrics, as specified. The bill would require the Legislative Analyst's Office, in consultation with the Department of Finance, to submit recommended metrics to specified persons and entities on or before January 31, 2013. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature to formally adopt statewide metrics following a review of those recommended metrics. Commencing September 30, 2013, the bill would require the Legislative Analyst's Office to annually release a statewide performance report, as specified, using each of the statewide metrics adopted by the Legislature. Commencing January 1, 2014, the bill would require the Legislative Analyst's Office to annually provide its own assessment of progress toward the achievement of those 3 goals, as specified, with recommendations for legislative action, as appropriate. The bill also would require the segments of postsecondary education, as defined, to have the opportunity to annually provide their own assessments. The bill would also state additional legislative intent and make specified findings and declarations regarding state goals for postsecondary education.