AB 705–Compassion or Consumption? by Barbara Young

Skipping school has now become an academic norm; at least since 2018 when AB 705 was enacted. In a move to eliminate delays in a student’s educational progress, AB 705 actually allows students to overstep remedial coursework and go straight into transfer level courses. Without a fuller understanding of basic English and math skills, however, many students face more difficulties when trying to keep up with transfer level work; thus, delaying their educational progress (and possibly with a cut in federal aid).

Additionally, AB 705 bumps adjunct faculty out of teaching positions that once bridged the educational gaps that exist between high school and college coursework. With the loss of employment opportunities for adjuncts and the shuffling of unprepared students into university level courses, AB 705 translates to an education subject to depreciation, especially once alumni find themselves propelled into extremely competitive job markets. AB 705 translates to decreased student aid and cut backs on adjunct faculty positions. So are our community colleges progressing, or regressing?

Spending one more semester to gain better understandings in English and math that might one day help an alumni make an additional $10–20K a year should be what community colleges offer. Instead, with AB 705 in effect, our community is losing educators and denying students the benefit of a quality education.

(Note from President: According to the District, the transfer success rate of Citrus College students has increased. Judge for yourself at https://www.citruscollege.edu/admin/research/Pages/AB705.aspx)