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California's Community Colleges
To learn more
View selected policy articles from School Services of California that focus on CCC issues.
The California Community Colleges (CCC) play vital and diverse roles in the state’s public higher education system.
In 1960, California’s Master Plan for Higher Education promised publicly subsidized higher education to every Californian willing and able to benefit from it. But the Master Plan also limited enrollment in the California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) systems. Students graduating in the top one-eighth of each year’s high school class are eligible to attend a UC campus, and those in the top one-third are eligible for CSU. The community colleges are responsible for meeting the remaining demand for public postsecondary education.
Featured Research
Course-taking patterns, policies, and practices in developmental education in the California Community Colleges
In 2009, the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) contracted with EdSource to explore the effectiveness of developmental or basic skills education in preparing students for college-level work. This study includes a literature review, policy analysis, and information gathered through interviews and other consultation with more than 40 community college stakeholders.
Of the nearly 1.8 million students enrolled in California's community colleges in fall 2009, nearly half are 25 years or older.
May 2011With the exception of Asian/Pacific Islanders, the majority of college-going high school graduates of other ethnicities went to a California Community...
May 2011Graph of the fees charged (in the fall) per semester unit over time by California community colleges.
April 2011Taken from an EdSource study, this table provides a sample of the remedial writing, reading, and integrated course sequences used by California Commun...
November 2010These tables, taken from an EdSource study, list the basic frequency data that describes when the students (from the study cohort) who took a remedi...
November 2010This table shows the variation among colleges with respect to the lowest level of remedial writing and reading coursework offered below college compos...
November 2010Related Publications
Community College Funding: Need grows as dollars decrease
This report summarizes the community college system's budget in the current year as well as the li...
March 2011 | Read More >
Something’s Got to Give
Based on an EdSource research study, this report explores the community college system’s cha...
October 2010 | Read More >
A Guide to California’s Community Colleges
One of a series, this is a free 2-page Q&A on community college for college-bound high school s...
October 2010 | Read More >
Community Colleges: Their crucial role in public education
This issue brief highlights the comments of California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott an...
April 2010 | Read More >
Community College Funding 2009–10: Increased Demand, Reduced Resources
This issue brief on community college funding looks at the current enrollment pressures on community...
January 2010 | Read More >
Community College Funding 2008–09: Enrollment Growth Outpaces Resources
EdSource’s first issue brief on community college funding looks at the current enrollment pres...
January 2009 | Read More >
Task Force on Student Success
Senate Bill (SB) 1143 called for the Board of Governors of the California
Community Colleges to adopt a comprehensive plan for promoting and
improving student success. The first step: a new Task Force on Student
Success. The Task Force will provide recommendations in such areas as
statutory and regulatory barriers; measures and programs for assessing
student success and completion; best practices for promoting these; and
alternative funding options.
California Community Colleges System Office (CCCSO)
More information about the administration of the CCC, including the chancellor, Board of Governors, Consultation Council, and various administrative divisions.
Accountability Reporting for the Community Colleges (ARCC)
More information about state accountability outcomes and reporting, as implemented to meet the requirements of Assembly Bill 1417.
Chancellor’s Office Data Mart
Access to community college data from the system’s Management Information Systems (MIS).