Community Colleges

Nearly $300 million in additional money for the state's community colleges. This will provide a 19. 3 percent increase in funding. The community colleges are expected to take the brunt of "tidal wave II," an enrollment increase of some 500,000 students during the next decade. In this time of rapid technological change, it is the community colleges that serve as the training ground of the economy. The proposal provides for a variety of specific programs that are being proposed by Legislators as well as $70 million in discretionary funds for college districts. Among the programs being proposed are: $10.4 million for book stipends for low-income students; $ 10 million to bolster professional programs such as nurse training; $80 million to hire more, full-time faculty; and $39 million to fund higher enrollment.

College Scholarships

The cost of sending our children to college continues to rise. Assembly Democrats propose making a record amount of scholarship money available to those who need financial assistance in order to attend. The average student now has to borrow twice as much money as he or she needed seven years ago in order to complete college. At the University of California, students acquired an average of $18,716 in debt. At the California State University, the average was $14,274. The proposal by Assembly Democrats is provide the full funding for CalGrants that is required by current statute. This will provide scholarship awards to another 25,500 students each year and will allow the state to provide grants to 25 percent of all eligible students, which is the target for the program set in law. All Cal-Grant programs include a need test. One program is based on both need and merit. This augmentation is in addition to the Governor's program, which will provide scholarships based on merit only. Cal-Grant programs pay for tuition and fees at both state and- private universities.

For more information, contact Paul Holmes or Shannon Mahoney.

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