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The college admission scandal, college affordability and for-profit colleges are targets of new laws signed Friday by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Newsom signed the laws addressing the college admission scandal on the same day a prominent Napa Valley winemaker was sentenced to five months in prison for his participation in the scandal named Operation Varsity Blues by prosecutors. The Legislature passed several bills in response to the scandal, which involved parents paying large sums of money to get their children into prestigious colleges nationwide including University of Southern California, UCLA and Stanford.
The money paid for proctors to boost their children’s test scores by changing answers and to bribe coaches to put their children on college sports teams even though they didn’t play the sport. However, one of those bills, initially seeking to limit admissions linked to alumni and donor connections, was weakened in its final version.
“Higher education has the power to transform lives, and all hardworking young people in our state deserve a shot at it,” Newsom said. “This package of bills strikes at the forces that keep the doors of opportunity closed to too many people in our state. Together we’re improving affordability, transparency and integrity in higher education”
Newsom also signed legislation that would significantly increase financial aid for students. Days after being sworn in as governor, Newsom proposed extending the state’s tuition-free community college program from one year to two. The state’s 2019-20 budget includes $42.6 million to support the second year of free tuition for approximately 33,000 students. The budget also includes $41.8 million to increase the number of competitive Cal Grant scholarships.
On college affordability:
California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley applauded Newsom for focusing on a series of bills that would make college more affordable and transparent.
“I commend Gov. Newsom and the Legislature for approving a series of important bills that will help more California students succeed and for continuing to stand on the side of students who have been harmed by poor outcomes and closures by the for-profit colleges,” said Eloy Ortiz Oakley, chancellor of the California Community Colleges, in a statement. “Other bills signed today will improve the ability of high school students and students enrolled in adult education programs to concurrently take community college courses that count toward earning certificates and degrees.”
The legislation signed Friday targeting the college admissions scandal didn’t go nearly as far as what was initially proposed. Earlier versions of AB 697, for example, would have banned colleges from receiving state financial aid if they allowed any admissions preferences to children of alumni or donors. Now it just requires that schools report whether their colleges provide any form of preferential treatment in admissions to applicants on the basis of donor or alumni relations.
Bills that more aggressively targeted for-profit colleges were also signed but what Newsom got were weaker versions than were initially proposed. AB 1340 requires for-profit institutions to report their graduates’ earnings and debt levels, but those with high debt-to-income ratios are not barred from operating. Still, consumer advocates applauded the new legislation.
“The three bills signed by the governor today … are important steps to increase oversight, transparency and protections for students attending for-profit colleges,” said Debbie Cochrane, executive vice president of the Institute for College Access & Success, a nonprofit group focused on affordability and access.
Newsom also signed legislation that would make it easier for high school and adult students to access dual enrollment programs. On dual enrollment:
EdSource reporter Larry Gordon contributed to this report.
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Bo Loney 5 years ago5 years ago
I'm just as upset about the Varsity Blue scandal as the next. As well as the test prep industry. But not for the same reasons most are. I'm upset for the gifted community. Not that I am gifted in any way whatsoever. I feel like they will be the ones that fall through the next crack created. I understand that the state tests strongly correlate with the SAT scores, … Read More
I’m just as upset about the Varsity Blue scandal as the next. As well as the test prep industry. But not for the same reasons most are. I’m upset for the gifted community. Not that I am gifted in any way whatsoever. I feel like they will be the ones that fall through the next crack created. I understand that the state tests strongly correlate with the SAT scores, but they are so watered down you can’t actually see where the student scores. If you do research you will see that gifted students don’t always get the greatest grades for many reasons the school system has not addressed yet.
I feel in the tech age we are going to fail those that can do the most for our nation by letting go of the safety net of the SAT. The net that shows out of the ordinary high ability despite GPA that should make people say wait a minute let’s look at this kid closer. I mean, most of these kids will also be showing discrepancies in their AP test scores compared to their class grade so there is still a net if people pay attention.
I feel removing the SAT or not making clear exactly what number public school kids score on the state test scores will just continue to open doors for those that can pay for grades.