Bill > SB1550

This bill establishes a pilot program for California Community Colleges to offer extension courses focused on career and workforce training, allowing up to five campuses from separate districts to participate. The program aims to address high demand for classes and workforce development needs, especially given past funding cuts to community colleges. Participating colleges must meet specific criteria, such as having served beyond their funding limits and not receiving certain stability adjustments. While these extension courses will not be eligible for state apportionment funding (meaning they won't count towards the state's per-student funding calculations), they will be open to the public, and participating districts can charge fees to cover the actual costs of offering these programs, including instruction, materials, and administrative oversight. The bill also encourages participants to offer courses leading to employer-recognized certificates and requires them to collect and report data on student participation, demographics, and outcomes to the Chancellor's office. The pilot program is set to conclude on January 1, 2018, with a report from the Legislative Analyst's Office evaluating its effectiveness and recommending future actions.