California community colleges have eliminated requirements for math and English basic skills courses. The changes come from a new state law that says students have the right to access transfer level Math and English courses — Assembly Bill 705.
“Now we’re going forward with a major redesign of the curriculum, of the way classes are being taught,” said Michael Wangler, dean of mathematics and business.
First-year students can replace basic courses with a group class in conjunction with transfer level courses.
“In math, we’re transitioning from a more lecture based environment focused on content to more of a student center environment, teaching skills the students actually need,”Wangler said.
The math program could see the most dramatic changes under the new system.
“Wherever they’re coming from, the vast majority of our students are going to be able to finish their math requirements in one semester,” Wangler said.
AB 705 requires community colleges to increase numbers of students completing transfer-level English and math within a year. One way of increasing transfer level coursework is enrolling new students in higher level courses.
The program is one part of a larger strategy to usher students through community colleges faster–with closer guidance and more direction, known as Guided Pathways.
Wangler explained that his former employer Cuyamaca College developed an accelerated curriculum with great success.
The college now allows students to report their high school GPA, or the last math courses they have taken in high school and passed with a “C” or better. Previously, community colleges required students to take assessment tests for math and English placement. Depending on test performance students placed in either transfer level, or basic skills courses.
If Citrus does not recieve high school transcripts, applicants may still take a placement test called Accuplacer, which assesses English and math skill levels.
AB 705 does not eliminate basic skills courses from community college curriculums.The bill says colleges may no longer place students directly into basic skills courses unless they place low.
The dean of the English department Dr. Gina Hogan said her department will look at transcripts and test scores carefully before placing students.
“Students may not have access to their academic transcripts, and we are aware of that,” Hogan said.
AB 705 is intended to streamline the process of transferring to a four-year institution. The campus Learning Center may be impacted. Many Learning Center users are English 98 and 99 students.
Learning Center supervisor Jody Fehr said that research proves most students are capable of “successfully completing transfer level courses.”
“AB 705 is a transformative piece of legislation that will encourage students to complete their general education prerequisites in the time allotted by the college,” Fehr said in an email.
Prior to the changes, program attrition rates were high for students starting at the basic skills level. Any number of life events may prevent a student from completing a program that takes longer than two years to complete.
“This saves students time and money,” Fehr said in an email. “I know our students are highly capable, and they will be able to reach their goals faster because of this legislation, and I am glad we are not doing this to students anymore.”
English Professor Rebecca Rudd said AB 705 will boost student confidence.
“The new English 101 will not just throw students in English 101 and tell them to sink or swim, but instead, the corequisite provides support to help them be successful,” Rudd said.
Advocates of the bill hope it will bring improved transfer rates, especially in difficult subjects. In the California Community Colleges 2018 Student Success Scorecard, which measures program completion rates, Math consistenty ranked lowest at Citrus.
From 2011 to 2016, between 9.4 and 14.6 percent of Citrus math students completed transfer level math courses.
“If we can show students, you can actually do this, work with peers and build the collective confidence of a class a whole, they’ll be able to achieve at a higher level,” Wangler said.
