WHEREAS, AB 1705 (Irwin, 2022) mandates that California Community College STEM majors be placed directly into transfer-level Calculus I beginning July 1, 2025, as the point after which colleges may not recommend/require transfer-level preparatory courses based on placement rules unless they have validated those sequences; colleges must also ensure STEM students have access to STEM Calculus I, thereby significantly increasing the demand for concurrent academic support services [1][6];
WHEREAS, Chancellor’s Office guidance operationalizes AB 1705’s “highly unlikely to succeed” standard for STEM Calculus 1 using a 15% throughput benchmark, which the CSU Mathematics Council, Academic Senate for California Community Colleges, and numerous faculty organizations have determined to be an unreasonably high standard that fails to protect students who would benefit from preparatory coursework [6][2][3];
WHEREAS, Research from the RP Group and Chancellor's Office data demonstrates that while direct placement into calculus can improve throughput rates for some students, significant equity gaps persist, with Black students completing transfer-level math at rates 22 percentage points lower than White students and Latino students completing at rates 17 percentage points lower than White students, indicating that access alone does not ensure equitable outcomes [6][4][5];
WHEREAS, The allocated $64 million one-time Equitable Placement and Completion Grant allocated in 2023 for AB 1705 implementation [7] is insufficient to establish, maintain, and expand tutoring center capacity, hire qualified tutors, develop course-embedded tutoring programs, and provide the sustained academic support necessary for students placed directly into Calculus I without traditional preparatory coursework; Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges recognize that adequate tutoring support is essential to student success under AB 1705, and that dedicated state funding for tutoring services specifically targeting AB 1705-affected mathematics courses would help mitigate the unintended consequences of this legislation and support the success of all students, particularly those from historically underrepresented populations;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate to the California Legislature and Governor for the establishment of dedicated, ongoing categorical funding specifically allocated for tutoring support services at California Community Colleges for courses affected by AB 1705 implementation, including but not limited to STEM Calculus I, innovative preparatory courses, and corequisite support courses;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges urge the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office to prioritize tutoring and academic support services in future budget requests and funding allocations related to AB 1705 implementation, recognizing that concurrent support is essential to the legislation's stated goal of improving student success and closing equity gaps; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges, faculty organizations, and student advocacy groups to develop and promote best practices for tutoring programs that effectively support students in AB 1705-affected mathematics courses, including course-embedded tutoring, supplemental instruction, and peer tutoring models.
Citations:
- California Education Code Section 78213, as amended by AB 1705 (Irwin, 2022)
- CSU Math Council Resolution Regarding the Implementation of Assembly Bill 1705 as it pertains to STEM Major Academic Preparation (2024)
- Academic Senate for California Community Colleges Resolution 105.06 F24 - Negative Impacts on Equity and Inclusion in Relation to CCCCO Guidance on AB 1705 (2024)
- RP Group, "Preparatory Pathways and STEM Calculus Completion under AB 1705," November 2024
- Public Policy Institute of California, "Tracking Progress in Community College Access and Success," March 2025
- California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, ESLEI 24-15, "Validation of Equitable Placement, Support and Completion Practices for STEM Calculus Pathways," Feb 27, 2024
- California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, ESS 23-08, "Equitable Placement, Support and Completion (AB 1705) Funding Allocation," May 2023