Community colleges: mentoring credit program.

Existing law creates 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 this state. Existing law authorizes community college districts throughout the state to provide instruction at the campuses they operate. Existing law, the California Student Opportunity and Access Program, authorizes the Student Aid Commission to apportion funds for the support of projects designed to increase accessibility of postsecondary educational opportunities and financial aid for pupils from underserved communities who meet specified criteria, including projects to hire undergraduate or graduate students to serve as college success coaches to actively mentor pupils, as provided. This bill would require the governing board of a community college district to create a one-to-one mentoring program that matches a student over 18 years of age who passes a criminal background check and receives specific training in mentoring to a youth under 18 years of age. The bill would require student mentors to provide mentoring for no less than 2 hours, at least 2 times per month, for a minimum of 2 semesters or 3 quarters. The bill would require the governing board of a community college district to create an attendance accounting method, as provided, and would authorize a district to partner with a community-based one-to-one mentoring program to identify youth in need of mentoring and to assist in matching student mentors with identified youth. The bill would limit academic credit and apportionment for the mentoring to 2 semester units of credit or 3 quarter units of credit, or 96 noncredit hours. By imposing new requirements on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.