California faces a serious problem.  If current trends persist, California will have decreased college-going among our young population, a projected shortage of highly educated workers compared to the needs in the economy, and declining personal income relative to the rest of the country. This is not the future that any of us want.

Fortunately, there are a number of viable solutions to these problems, many underway, others proposed.  Here are a number of solutions and policy proposals that The Campaign for College Opportunity supports.

This bill ensures that students and their families, beginning in middle school, understand that if they prepare for college, California will provide them the opportunity to pursue career technical education or a college degree in our community colleges and universities and provide financial assistance for eligible students with need. A bipartisan group of legislators has joined Senator Scott in introducing this bill. 

View the SB 890 Fact Sheet.

View the AB 668 Fact Sheet.

The Community College Basic Skills is an important effort to help improve instruction and the delivery of services to the large proportion of community college students who need to master basic math and English to successfully complete career technical, degree and transfer programs in the community colleges. An estimated 70% of students test into pre-college level programs, but only about one third of students enroll in basic skills education. This important Initiative, with funding from the Governor and legislature, and leadership by the Academic Senate and Chancellor's Office of the California Community Colleges is an important part of the solution.