Pioneering Pilot Program Created By Newly-Enacted SB 893 (Becker) Could Help Every SMCCCD Student
SACRAMENTO – A pioneering pilot program in the San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) could allow all of its nearly 30,000 students to attend one of the district’s three campuses at a reduced or possibly no cost now that SB 893 (Becker) has been signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom.
“The District’s ‘Promise Scholar Program’ has helped thousands of students facing financial hardships over the years be able to afford a quality community college education and now we have a chance to help every student in the district by shouldering that financial burden for them,” said Senator Josh Becker (D-San Mateo). “Attending college is more expensive than ever and students, fresh out of high school, who have worked so hard throughout their academic careers are faced with an enormous financial decision. Do they take out loans? Do they get another job? Should they live at home longer? Should they go to school at all? This law will let the SMCCCD remove a significant number of roadblocks for these students and make their decision to get a quality education a whole lot easier.”
SB 893 allows the SMCCCD to operate a pilot program through July 1, 2028, to use local funds to reduce or eliminate the tuition and fees charged to students. Exactly how many students will receive assistance and what level of help they will receive is a decision for the SMCCCD Board of Trustees to make. The Board recently approved its 2022-23 budget which included funding to eliminate all tuition and fees, and to provide books and educational materials, for all students beginning January 1, 2023, when SB 893 takes effect.
California’s first community college opened its doors in Fresno in 1910 and enrollment at all community college campuses was free of charge until 1985, when a $5 per unit was first imposed. Today, the enrollment fee at all of California’s 115 community college campuses is $46 per unit, a number that has been unchanged since 2012. That fee does not include other costs associated with attending a community college, such as costs for books, parking, health services, student activities, and much more.
“Free community college is the most efficient and effective investment government can make to accelerate economic and social equity,” said John Pimentel, a member of the SMCCCD Board of Trustees. “SB 893 allows locally collected property taxes from San Mateo County landowners to be used to create opportunity for families who are typically not landowners and who are first generation college students to enhance lifetime earnings and enable intergenerational wealth creation through higher education.”
Co-authored by local Assemblymembers Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) and Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco), SB 893 was supported by the SMCCCD, the San Mateo County Economic Development Association, the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, the San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce, the San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce, and the city of Redwood City. The bill passed the Assembly and the Senate on unanimous, bi-partisan 77-0 and 40-0 votes, respectively.
SB 893 will take effect on January 1, 2023.
PRESS CONTACT: Evan Goldberg at evan.goldberg@sen.ca.gov or (916) 616-9811
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