Postsecondary education.

Existing law vests specified powers and duties in the State Department of Education for purposes of the public education system. Existing law sets forth the functions and responsibilities of the California Postsecondary Education Commission in its capacity as the statewide postsecondary education planning and coordinating agency and adviser to the Legislature and the Governor. In particular, the commission is required to review all proposals for changes in eligibility pools for admission to public institutions and segments of postsecondary education and to make recommendations to the Legislature, the Governor, and institutions of postsecondary education. In carrying out this requirement, the commission is required to periodically conduct a study of the percentages of California public high school graduates estimated to be eligible for admission to the University of California and the California State University. This bill would make findings and declarations concerning the importance of university eligibility studies and noting that, since the commission ceased operations, these studies have not been conducted. The bill would require the State Department of Education to periodically conduct studies, but no more frequently than every 4 years, of the percentages of California public high school graduates estimated to be eligible for admission to the University of California and the California State University. The bill would require that a study be completed within 18 months from when state or nonstate funds are made available for this purpose.