CA SB 744

Title: Accrediting agencies.
Author: Christopher Cabaldon

Summary
SB 744, as amended, Cabaldon. Accrediting agencies. Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, the California State University, the University of California, independent institutions of higher education, and private postsecondary educational institutions as the segments of postsecondary education in the state. Existing law requires certain postsecondary educational institutions to be accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education to qualify as an independent institution of higher education to be eligible for certain programs and to receive an approval to operate.Existing laws applicable to, among other things, the licensure and regulation of various professions and vocations by the Department of Consumer Affairs require applicants for licensure or licensees to satisfy educational requirements by completing programs or degrees from institutions or universities accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency or association recognized by the United States Department of Education, or otherwise impose a requirement that a school or program be accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.This bill would provide that, for purposes of any code or statute, a national or regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education as of January 1, 2025, shall retain that recognition until January 20, 2029, provided that the accrediting agency continues to operate in substantially the same manner as it did on January 1, 2025. The bill would repeal those provisions on January 1, 2030.Existing law requires the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to establish, by March 31, 2019, an initiative to expand the use of course credit at the California Community Colleges for students with prior learning. Existing law required the chancellor to submit, by January 1, 2020, a report on the initiative to the Legislature.This bill would delete those requirements and would instead require the chancellor to award credit for competency-based educational opportunities that recognize students’ prior learning and help students advance toward a credential or degree while reducing redundant study and student expenses. The bill would require the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to establish competencies, with the advice of appropriate faculty and employers, that are focused on the knowledge and skills a student needs to demonstrate in order to pass a course and to earn a degree or credential, or to transfer to a baccalaureate degree program. The bill would describe methods for awarding credit pursuant to these provisions as including, but not being limited to, military service, credit by examination, and evaluation of training, certifications, apprenticeships, licenses, and service learning, as provided. The bill would require the chancellor’s office, on or before September 1, 2027, to submit a report to the Legislature on the credits awarded pursuant to these provisions.Existing law establishes a system through which state funds are apportioned to community college districts based on specified formulas and identifies certain noncredit community college courses and classes that are eligible for that state apportionment funding.This bill would require individualized evaluation, assessment, and portfolio review of students’ prior learning and competencies for the awarding of credit pursuant to the above-described provisions to be eligible for state apportionment funding.

Status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 3.) (July 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

Bill Documents
CA SB 744 - 06/11/25 - Amended Assembly
06/11/25 - CA SB 744 (06/11/25 - Amended Assembly)