Quality. Access. Low Cost. Can California's Community Colleges Do It All?
March 2005
In many ways, the fates of California's community colleges and K-12 education are linked. Both systems depend on the state as their primary source of funding, and both have the goal of universal access to education at the core of their missions. They face many similar challenges in a state that continues to struggle with how to reconcile its expectations for public education with its financial commitment.
California's community colleges are expected to provide a broad range of affordable educational opportunities to everyone who wants access. Community colleges attract students with a diversity of backgrounds, abilities and interests--from students hoping to transfer to four-year universities, to students looking for career/technical education, to students seeking a second chance for an education that will bring them economic security in today's society. The California Community College (CCC) system has attempted to provide quality programs to serve its far-reaching mission, and has struggled to do so despite funding that is well below what most states provide to their community colleges. In 2003 the system faced both dramatic growth in the state's young adult population and a state budget that reduced expected funding. In response, community colleges cut course offerings and student services. Some experts warn that if the capacity of the system is not increased through additional funding and better use of the resources now provided, the community colleges will not be able to fulfill their promise of meaningful educational opportunity for all Californians.
This publication begins by describing the community college system's mission, programs, and students, including information about the challenges all 110 campuses share and some of the ways in which they differ. It explores the dynamic tension between enrollment demand and funding, and summarizes recent research addressing issues such as remediation rates.
See also the complete bibliography of this report:
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