SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) finds that all three of the programs that the California Online Community College, established pursuant to Part 46.5 (commencing with Section 75000) of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, offers are already offered at the accredited California community colleges. Thus, the California Online Community College’s programs are duplicative in context, in violation of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 75001 of the Education Code.
(b) The ASCCC also finds, in accordance with a memorandum by the office of the Chancellor of the California
Community Colleges on January 10, 2020, that the method of delivery that the California Online Community College has employed is duplicative of the California Community Colleges’ existing methods of delivery, contradicting guidance from the Legislature in paragraph (1) of subdivision (f) of Section 75001 of the Education Code.
(c) While there are subtle differences between the California Online Community College’s method of delivery and the method of delivery at the other California community colleges, these differences do not fundamentally or significantly change the instruction or programs offered, and the fact remains that the California Online Community College’s programs are already being offered at the other California community colleges.
(d) In 2020, both the Assembly and the Senate recommended defunding and closing the California Online Community College to Governor Gavin
Newsom. Only the recommendation to defund and reallocate some of the California Online Community College’s budget was implemented.
(e) The California Online Community College received one-time funds of $77,000,000, and ongoing support of $15,000,000 per year, yet it has only enrolled a handful of students, is not accredited, and has yet to hire any full-time faculty.
(f) The California Community Colleges remains underfunded, yet it serves over 2,000,000 students, thus making the need and priority for funding overwhelmingly greater for the California Community Colleges’ system than for the California Online Community College. The money allocated to the California Online Community College could be better used for similar classes and services at California’s accredited community colleges.