How Legislation May Impact Our Work: Government Relations U - PowerPoint Presentation

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How Legislation May Impact Our Work: Government Relations Update

WACAC ConferenceJune, 2014Slide2

Agenda

Welcome & IntroductionsGRAC Committee Year in ReviewLocal Visits2014 Legislative Conference

Current CA Legislation

Future Activities

Q & ASlide3

GRAC Committee

Chair for California Steven Mercer Chair for Nevada Katie SwansonChair Elect (CA) Adolfo Mercado

Secretary Maureen Chang

Legislative Conference Co-Chair Nicole Jackson

Web Chair Breanne Boyle

NACAC/Federal Issues Chairs Jeff Morrow/

Micheal

Krahelski

Communications Chair DJ Fuller

Local Visits Chair Erica Cosgrove

Transfer Issues

Lise

Flocken

Legislative Advocate Pam Lopez - K Street ConsultingSlide4

Local Visits

What is advocacy and why should we do it? Just as we advocate for our students in our daily work lives, we need to publicly advocate for

all

students to improve their readiness for college, access to college and ability to get the help they need to plan their education.

When we advocate for our students with our elected officials, we are engaging in advocacy work or lobbying. We are attempting to inform and influence our elected officials about the many challenges faced by high school students, community college students counselors, administrators and teachers with respect to the transition from high school to college. Slide5

Local Visits

Who are we? We are members of a professional organization of college advisors, counselors and admissions officials. We are the Western regional group (WACAC) of the National Association of College Advisors and Counselors (NACAC). We are made up of over

1,800

leaders in college admissions, counseling and related professions. Slide6

Local Visits

Specifically, our priority for this year Rebuilding Our Community Colleges. With

drastic cuts to our public higher education system in recent years, approximately 500,00 students have been turned away from our community colleges. WACAC wants to ensure that any person in California who wants access to higher education should be able to attend one of our state’s community colleges.

No student interested in career training or who’s interested in attending community college and transferring to a four-year university should be turned away from community college or from taking the courses they need.

Every community college should have a Transfer Center and/or Career Center to help students understand what they need to do to achieve their career and higher education goals. Every community college should have professional staff who can guide students within the state’s higher education system. Slide7

Local Visits

Setting Up a Meeting with your LegislatorAbout two weeks before you would like to meet, call their district office and ask to talk to the Scheduler.

The Scheduler may ask you to send an email that says, “We

are

WACAC and we are

hoping

to meet with Assemblywoman _____ to speak about rebuilding higher education

options.

The three or four people from our Association who will be there are ___, ____, and _________. Include in the email several days and times that your group is available to meet.

A few days after sending the email, follow up with a phone call to the scheduler; it may take a few calls to get the meeting scheduled.Slide8

Local Visits

What to Expect and What to Do in Your Meetings:The appointment should be short and sweet. Aim for 15 minutes.

Introductions – Introduce yourselves and include where you live and work and other professional and volunteer leadership roles you have.

Present Talking Points 1, 2, & 3

Offer WACAC and yourself as a resource to the legislative office

Ask for the support of the legislator or staff in supporting our priorities

Thank you and depart. Don’t forget to collect their business cards for follow up and leave yours as well. Slide9

GRAC Annual California Legislative Conference 2014

AGENDA

Day 1

1:00PM Conference Registration

1:30PM – 6:00PM Conference Opening Session

7:00PM Dinner- Legislator of the Year Award

Day 2

8:00AM

Breakfast/Plan with Your Team

9:00AM

Overview of the Day

9:30AM -3:00 PM Capitol Appointments

- State Capitol Offices

12:00PM Lunch (Off site/On your own)

3:00 PM Capitol De-briefing

4:00 PM AdjournSlide10

Past Talking Points

Include School Counselors in the implementation of Common Core Curriculum Standards and Smarter Balanced Assessments in K12 public schools.Include student access to school counseling programs in new measures of K-12 school performance.

Support the successful implementation of the Community College Student Success Program.

Support “Pay it Forward Pay it Back” in California. Slide11

Lobbying Teams

Assigned by regionBroad perspectives and experiences to share with legislatorsGreat networking and professional developmentSlide12

Assembly Bill 1854 (Linder – Republican)Examination fees: Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Examination Fee Grant Program.

Description of Bill:

Would create a fund awarding students grants to cover costs of AP and

IB

tests

Grants for eligible economically disadvantaged or foster youth high school students

Fund administered by State Department of Education

Government Relations Committee Feedback:

Great idea for helping students

We prefer not to limit grants to only AP and

IB

exam fees

We would prefer bill to also include grants for SAT and ACT exam fees

WACAC Position: Support, if amended.Slide13

Assembly Bill 2160 (Ting – Democrat)Cal Grant Program: grade point average

.

Description of Bill:

Would require high schools to submit grade point average (GPA) to colleges for Cal Grant A and B applicants

Public high schools would be required to submit this information for every applicant

Info would be submitted electronically

Government Relations Committee Feedback:

The Student Aid Commission is neutral on this bill

Simple task to clear the pipeline for eligible students to receive grant money – potentially allowing more people to receive grant

Unclear whether this will be a mandate and funding is not an issue at this point

We are interested in feedback from schools

What is the current process for submitting GPAs to Cal Grant?

What are the struggles or issues this presents to the high school?

WACAC Position: SupportSlide14

Senate Bill 967 (DeLeon

– Democrat)Student safety: sexual assault.

Description of Bill:

Requires adoption (by colleges) of clear policies regarding sexual assault and sexual violence

Policy must include an affirmative consent standard

Must make procedures standardized, defined, and easily accessible to students and staff

Government Relations Committee Feedback:

College students are being thrown into life-altering campus procedures and the specifics aren’t clearly outlined for students

Bill will determine what standards to use and asks colleges to make sure they are in place and accessible to students and staff

For

CSUs

this will become a mandate

We will keep tabs on funding issues but costs to implement are predicted to be low

WACAC Position: SupportSlide15

Senate Bill 1210 (Lara – Democrat)Postsecondary education: California DREAM Loan Program.

Description of Bill:

Creates a new funding program for those identified as DREAMERS

Previous bill allows for undocumented students to be allowed to apply as in-state residents to

CSUs

(if they meet other requirements)

This bill will create a funding source that provides financial aid (need-based aid) for those students who qualify as DREAMERS

Government Relations Committee Feedback:

Students who are already qualified as DREAMERS may not be able to take advantage of

CSUs

without need-based aid

Bill allows students more opportunity to pursue higher education at

CSUs

WACAC Position: SupportSlide16

Q & A

For more information contact:Adolfo Mercado – Chair for CA

amercado@

saccds.org

Katie Swanson – Chair for NV

kswanson@washoeschools.net