This bill authorizes the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to establish the Rising Scholar Network program. The Chancellor may enter into agreements with up to 50 community colleges to provide additional funds for services in support of justice-involved students. Community college districts interested in participating in the Rising Scholar Network are required to apply to the board of governors for funding. The bill requires the board of governors to adopt regulations for the Rising Scholar Network that fulfill the following goals and guidance of program:
- To designate a staff program director, coordinator, or liaison who has experience working with currently or formerly incarcerated students;
- To be supported with a dedicated campus meeting space;
- To build support and competency from a broad range of college stakeholders;
- To offer and make accessible a range of student supports to address academic and nonacademic needs;
- To foster peer mentors;
- To develop and maintain strong relationships with external partners, including community-based programs, probation, parole, and county jails;
- To provide or connect justice-involved students with direct student financial support for critical needs;
- To conduct outreach and respond to prospective justice-involved students, particularly those in jail or prison; and
- To help justice-involved students apply, matriculate, and persist to graduation.
The board of governors is required to submit a report to the Department of Finance on or before December 31, 2023 and every two years thereafter.
(AB 417 adds Article 6 (commencing with Section 78070) to Chapter 1 of Part 48 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code.)
