Executive Summary. 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. They face similar challenges in a state that continues to struggle with how to reconcile its expectations for public education with its financial commitment. Community colleges are expected to provide a broad range of affordable educational opportunities to everyone who wants access. However, in 2003 the California Community College 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.

This two-page summary of EdSource's report, Quality. Access. Low Cost. Can California's Community Colleges Do It All? highlights the difficulties inherent in raising expectations for the state's community colleges with limited regard for the costs or tradeoffs involved.

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Quality. Access. Low Cost. Can California's Community Colleges Do It All?