California Community Colleges: pathways to law school programs.

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in the state. Under existing law, the board of governors appoints the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to serve as the chief executive officer of the segment. Existing law authorizes the governing board of a community college district to enter into a College and Career Access Pathways partnership with the governing board of a school district with the goal of developing seamless pathways from high school to community college for career technical education or preparation for transfer, improving high school graduation rates, or helping high school pupils achieve college and career readiness. This bill would make $10,000,000 available to the chancellor, upon appropriation in the annual Budget Act, for the purpose of expanding pathways to law school programs. The bill would specify that this purpose includes, but is not limited to, supporting opportunities for dual enrollment partnerships between community colleges and local high school law academies, implementing partnerships with the California State University system that incorporate associate degree for transfer programs, expanding existing transfer agreements with the University of California, and providing student advising and guidance to help participants in the Community College Pathway to Law School initiative successfully transfer into the California State University or the University of California. The bill would authorize the board of governors to contract with the Foundation for California Community Colleges to provide administrative support for the expansion of these pathways. The bill would require, on or before July 1, 2025, the office of the chancellor to submit a report to the appropriate budget and policy committees of the Legislature regarding outcomes resulting from the use of funds.