File No. 153

Senate, March 28, 2012

The Committee on Higher Education and Employment Advancement reported through SEN. BYE of the 5th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING COLLEGE READINESS AND COMPLETION.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2012) (a) For purposes of this section, "Connecticut's P-20 Council" means the state-wide council of educators, business leaders and civic officials formed by Executive Order Number 2A by Governor M. Jodi Rell in 2009 to build stronger ties among educators and policymakers at all levels of education in this state, from preschool to graduate school.

(b) Not later than the start of the fall semester of 2014 and for each semester thereafter, if a public institution of higher education determines, by use of multiple commonly accepted measures of skill level, that a student is likely to succeed in college level work with supplemental support, the public institution of higher education shall offer such student remedial support that is embedded with the corresponding entry level course in a college level program. Such embedded support shall be offered during the same semester as and in conjunction with the entry level course for purposes of providing the student with supplemental support in the entry level course.

(c) Not later than the start of the fall semester of 2014 and for each semester thereafter, if a public institution of higher education determines, by use of multiple commonly accepted measures of skill level, that a student is below the skill level required for success in college level work, the public institution of higher education shall offer such student the opportunity to participate in an intensive college readiness program before the start of the next semester. No public institution of higher education shall offer such student embedded remedial support, as provided in subsection (b) of this section, until such student completes an intensive college readiness program. The Board of Regents for Higher Education, in collaboration with Connecticut's P-20 Council, shall develop options for an intensive college readiness program.

(d) Not later than the start of the fall semester of 2014 and for each semester thereafter, no public institution of higher education shall offer any remedial support, including remedial courses, that is not embedded with the corresponding entry level course, as required pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, or offered as part of an intensive college readiness program.

Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2012) Not later than the start of the fall semester of 2014 and for each semester thereafter, each public high school and public institution of higher education shall complete curricular alignment to enable the successful completion of the high school mathematics and language arts curricula, as described in Connecticut's Common Core State Standards adopted by the State Board of Education, to be the indicator of readiness for college level work. A public institution of higher education may use available testing instruments to assess adults, who are returning to or first enrolling in a higher education program after spending time in the workforce, for readiness for college level work. Any student who graduates from high school during or after May 2014 shall have open access to college level courses, provided any such student who demonstrates the likelihood to succeed in college level work with supplemental support receives such support in accordance with subsection (b) of section 1 of this act.

Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2012) Not later than the start of the school year commencing July 1, 2014, and for each school year thereafter, Connecticut's P-20 Council, as defined in subsection (a) of section 1 of this act, shall ensure that each public institution of higher education works with the Department of Education and the local and regional school districts to develop an approach to (1) early assessment of the potential for college readiness of each student enrolled in the eighth and tenth grades in a public school, and (2) the sharing of the results of such assessment with such student, such student's parents or legal guardian and the public school in which such student is enrolled.

Statement of Legislative Commissioners:

Changes were made in sections 1 and 2 for accuracy and clarity, and in section 2, "June" was changed to "May" for conformity with graduation dates.

The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst's professional knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact:

Note: GF=General Fund

Municipal Impact: None

Explanation

The bill results in a cost in FY 14 of $750,000 to the constituent units of higher education as outlined below.

Section 1(b) of the bill results in a cost to the constituent units of higher education of $500,000 in FY 14 to develop remedial support embedded in college level courses. Programmatic costs in FY 15 and future years would depend on the structure of the program developed in FY 14.

Development of an intensive college readiness program (section 1(c)) at the Connecticut State Universities (CSUs) and the University of Connecticut would include at least one section of conditionally admitted intensive program participants on each campus. The cost would be dependent upon the program that is actually developed.  

Development of an intensive college readiness program (section 1(c)) at the Regional Community-Technical Colleges (RCTCs) results in a cost of $250,000. Costs in FY 15 and future years would depend on the structure of the program developed in FY 14.

The cost estimate for the lower-level remedial course sections for FY 11 was $3.7 million for direct instructional spending. The intensive readiness program could be designed for an outlay of a similar magnitude.

Section 2 requires, starting in Fall 2014, that public high schools align mathematics and language arts curricula with Connecticut's Common Core Standards, to be the indicator of readiness for college level work. It is not anticipated that this requirement would result in an additional cost to local and regional school districts as an existing staff member would be designated to coordinate this requirement.

The Out Years

The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to inflation and the programs actually developed.

OLR BILL ANALYSIS

sSB 40

AN ACT CONCERNING COLLEGE READINESS AND COMPLETION.

SUMMARY:

This bill requires public higher education institutions, beginning with the 2014 fall semester, to offer certain students remedial support embedded with the corresponding entry level course in a college-level program. Institutions must offer this support (1) to students whom they determine, through use of multiple commonly accepted measures of skill level, are likely to succeed in college level work with supplemental support and (2) during the same semester as, and in conjunction with, the entry level course.

For students determined to be below the skill level needed for college-level work, the bill requires institutions, beginning with the 2014 fall semester, to offer an intensive college readiness program before the next semester (presumably the semester after the determination is made). It prohibits such students from receiving embedded remedial support until they complete the intensive readiness program. The Board of Regents for Higher Education must develop options for such a program in collaboration with the state's P-20 Council (see BACKGROUND).

The bill requires open access to any college-level course for students who graduate from high school in or after May 2014, but requires that students eligible for embedded remedial support receive that support. It also prohibits institutions, beginning with the 2014 fall semester, from offering remedial support or courses not embedded with an entry level course or part of an intensive readiness program.

Additionally, the bill requires public high schools and public higher education institutions to align their curricula. The alignment must enable the successful completion of high school mathematics and language arts curricula, as described in Connecticut's Common Core State Standards, to be the indicator of college readiness.

Lastly, beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, the bill requires the P-20 Council to ensure that each public higher education institution works with the state Department of Education and local and regional school districts to (1) develop an early assessment of eighth and tenth grade students' college readiness and (2) share the results with students, parents or legal guardians, and schools.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2012

BACKGROUND

P-20 Council

The P-20 council is a statewide council of educators, business leaders, and civic officials created to build stronger ties among educators and policymakers at all levels of education. It was established in 2009 by Governor Rell in Executive Order 2A.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute