Assembly Member Santiago Introduces “Free Community College for All” Bill

(Los Angeles, CA) – Today, Assembly Member Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees Member Mike Fong and community partners hosted a press conference to celebrate the introduction of AB 2266. This legislation will expand the California College Promise (CCP) program to provide two years of tuition free community college to all full-time students, whether they are first-time or returning students. While expanding free higher education has stalled in the federal government, California has a chance to take a step forward and lead on this issue.

View press conference livestream link here

“Community college changed my life," said Assembly Member Santiago. “It gave me choices, opportunities and it opened doors. I know that free community college will change the lives of all Californians. Educating communities empowers communities, plain and simple. That is why we are expanding CCP to provide two years of free tuition to all full-time community college students, regardless if they are a first-time or returning student.”

“Making community colleges free for all full-time students is a game-changer for Californians and another step towards providing a debt free college throughout the state,” said Assembly Member Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento). “Community College has a lot to offer and can provide many career and educational opportunities to hard working Californians.”

“The LACCD College Promise Program has experienced unparalleled success, with higher overall rates of completion and persistence among mostly first-generation students,” said Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez, Ph.D. “This bill expands much-needed access to higher education, keeps college affordable for working families, and accelerates the journey to a no-cost Associates degree for all full-time students, keeping California globally competitive in an inclusive economy.”

In 2017, AB 19 (Santiago) established CCP, which authorized funding to be used by California Community Colleges (CCCs) to waive fees for first-time, full-time students during their first academic year. In 2019, AB 2 (Santiago) expanded upon the Promise program by adding a second academic year of waived tuition for first-time, full-time students. Over 33,000 CCC students received a CCP waiver in the 2020-21 academic year. CCP is considered to be a holistic program that provides necessary academic and financial supports for students through the use of counselors, peer mentors and other student success tools.

Currently, this program only provides two years of free community college for first time students and does not include returning students. AB 2266 will remove the first-time requirement from the College Promise and allow all full-time students to receive two tuition-free years at any CCC.

Assembly Member Miguel Santiago is the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization and the Assembly Select Committee on Los Angeles County Homelessness. He represents the 53rd District composed of the cities of Los Angeles, Huntington Park, and Vernon.