Lawmakers on Wednesday adopted a new state budget that includes $15 million to fund regional college-promise programs created by Assembly Bill 1741. Modeled after the Long Beach College Promise, AB 1741 by Assemblymembers Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach) and Freddie Rodriguez (D-Pomona) is expected to promote college readiness, eliminate achievement gaps and help students successfully transition to college and attain their degree.
“Today’s budget agreement reflects the Legislature’s commitment to live within our means and provide Californians with access to high-quality public education,” O’Donnell said. “As a teacher during the recession, I witnessed first-hand the devastating impacts poor financial planning had on our classrooms. By growing California’s rainy-day reserve to its highest level in recent history, we adopted a spending plan that protects students from the draconian cuts of the past and helps ensure our future economic stability.”
O’Donnell added that, as chair of the Assembly Education Committee, his top priority is restoring California’s reputation as a global leader in education.
“This budget takes us a step closer by fostering greater access to preschool and childcare services, dedicating new investments for career technical education, as well as allocating funds to increase enrollment at UC, CSU and community colleges,” he said. “The Long Beach College Promise serves as proof that when school districts and local higher education institutions work together, they can develop seamless transitions for students to graduate from high school and earn a college degree. I am proud to have secured $15 million in this year’s state budget to support incentive grants for the California College Promise. These grants will be used to bring the Long Beach College Promise statewide by ensuring schools have the resources to form similar partnerships that raise student achievement.”
The assemblymember thanked his legislative colleagues and Gov. Jerry Brown for working together to again deliver “a responsible, on-time budget for the people of California.”
