(a) This part shall be known, and may be cited, as the California Online Community College Act.

(b) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(1) According to the United States Census Bureau, 2011–15 American Community Survey data, there are 2.5 million Californians between 25 and 34 years of age whose highest educational attainment is either high school or some college. Of this group, 80 percent are working, and nearly half are Hispanic. The public segments of higher education have traditionally not offered courses that are readily accessible to these Californians. Working adults should have access to high-quality, affordable, and flexible opportunities to pursue postsecondary education that does not conflict with their work and familial obligations.

(2) California recognizes the dedication of every faculty member, classified staff member, manager, and administrator in the Community College system toward supporting the success of California’s community college students. As dedicated leaders, innovators, and educators, faculty will be integral to the success of the California Online Community College and improving the economic prosperity of numerous Californians.

(3) Flexible educational options are also critical to those displaced by job loss triggered by recessions. Californians have generally had a difficult time recovering from the Great Recession, but those with an associate’s degree earned higher wages and fared better in the recovery than those with only a high school degree or some college. Labor force participation remains low among the working age population, and economists believe this is partially due to a skills mismatch. Furthermore, according to the Economic Policy Institute, 60 percent of jobs created during the economic recovery from 2010 to 2014 went to men versus 40 percent of jobs that went to women.

(4) Immigrants, military veterans, and incarcerated or formerly incarcerated individuals could also benefit from the flexibility created by an affordable, high-quality online education that would allow them to improve their skills and advance their employment opportunities or stay relevant in their careers.

(5) Online education is showing a trend of improving course success rates over time. Research indicates the importance of institutional factors, such as course design, institutional support, effective student orientation and support services, and the development of strategies to promote regular interaction, in contributing to online course success. Studies also indicate that older students generally perform better in online courses than younger students.

(6) The cost for Californians to access online credentials, certificates, and associate’s degrees at nonpublic or out-of-state institutions is typically much higher—as much as seven to nine times higher per unit—than at a California community college. An affordable, high-quality, and flexible public online college provides an important alternative to other nonpublic online education options.

(7) According to the Public Utilities Commission, approximately 95 percent of California households have wired broadband availability. Recent legislation authorized additional funding for broadband and establishment of regional goals intended to reduce urban-rural disparities in broadband access. Additionally, the budget provides funding for public libraries to expand access to broadband.

(8) To ensure the future economic resiliency of California’s communities, the existing higher education infrastructure must be augmented with learning options that are focused on working learners, including options that are affordable, designed to be flexible for the schedule of working adults, and competency-based to facilitate portability of employable skills. With an open access mission, the California Community Colleges are positioned to work with a diverse population to increase wages and improve economic and social mobility in a rapidly changing economy.

(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 33, Sec. 18. (AB 1809) Effective June 27, 2018.)