SB 843 Summary

• Establishes the California Online Community College as a new online education system under the Board of Governors to provide flexible, affordable courses and certificates for working adults, with specific milestones for accreditation by April 1, 2025.

• Revises the community college funding formula (Student-Focused Funding Formula) starting in 2018–19 to allocate base, supplemental, and student success funding based on enrollment, student demographics, and completion metrics rather than prior year funding levels.

• Creates new student support programs including the Community College Student Success Completion Grant (providing $649–$2,000 per semester to eligible Cal Grant B/C recipients), California Student Author Project literacy grants, and enhanced support for foster youth (extending Cal Grant B eligibility to 8 years).

• Expands apprenticeship training reimbursement by allowing community college credit apprenticeship courses to be funded through the general apportionment formula in addition to related and supplemental instruction reimbursement.

• Appropriates $35 million for apportionment implementation, plus additional one-time funding ($13.5–$15 million each) for financial aid technology systems, mental health services, veterans resource centers, open educational resources, and immigrant legal services at community colleges.