(a) (1) The Student Equity and Achievement Program is hereby established.

(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that funds for the Student Equity and Achievement Program support the California Community Colleges in advancing the systemwide goal to boost achievement for all students with an emphasis on eliminating achievement gaps for students from traditionally underrepresented groups by doing all of the following:

(A) Implementing activities and practices pursuant to the California Community College Guided Pathways Grant Program.

(B) Ensuring students complete their educational goals and a defined course of study.

(C) Providing quality curriculum, instruction, and support services to students who enter college deficient in English and mathematics to ensure these students complete a course of study in a timely manner.

(b) As a condition of the receipt of funds for purposes of this section, a district shall comply with all of the following:

(1) Maintain a student equity plan pursuant to Section 78220 to ensure equal educational opportunities and to promote student success for all students, regardless of race, gender, age, disability, or economic circumstances.

(2) Provide student matriculation services pursuant to Section 78212, including implementation of orientation, counseling and advising, referral to specialized student support services, and other education planning services needed to assist a student in making informed decisions about the student’s educational goal and course of study and in developing an education plan. The Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall establish guidelines on student matriculation services, including, but not limited to, the development of an education plan leading to a course of study. Notwithstanding any other law, students who are exempted from matriculation services pursuant to Section 78215 are not subject to the requirements of this paragraph.

(3) Adopt and implement placement and enrollment policies consistent with the requirements of Section 78213.

(4) Provide all students with an education plan that identifies courses, a sequence of courses, key progress milestones, and other requirements the student must complete to earn an associate degree, career technical education certificate, other community college certificate, or meet transfer requirements. Notwithstanding any other law, students who are exempted from having an education plan under Section 78215 are not subject to the requirement of this paragraph.

(5) Provide support to, or establish, on-campus food pantries or regular food distributions.

(6) Provide a report to the chancellor’s office by January 1 of each year detailing how funding pursuant to this section was expended in the prior fiscal year and for what specific purposes. A district report shall also include an assessment of the progress in advancing the goals identified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a).

(c) (1) If the total amount of funds appropriated for purposes of this section is equal to or greater than the amount of funds appropriated in the 2017-18 fiscal year for the Student Success and Support Program pursuant to Section 78212, the student equity plans pursuant to Section 78221, and the Student Success for Basic Skills program pursuant to Section 88815, the chancellor shall allocate to each district an amount equal to or greater than the amount allocated in the 2017-18 fiscal year.

(2) If the total amount of funds appropriated for purposes of this section is less than the amount of funds appropriated in the 2017-18 fiscal year for the Student Success and Support Program pursuant to Section 78212, the student equity plans pursuant to Section 78221, and the Student Success for Basic Skills program pursuant to Section 88815, the chancellor shall allocate to each district the pro rata share of the amount appropriated based on the amount allocated to each district in the 2017-18 fiscal year.

(3) The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges may require districts or colleges to provide a local fund match for funding appropriated for purposes of this section.

(4) The chancellor shall provide guidance to districts regarding eligible expenditures and activities and integrated planning to ensure funding for the Student Equity and Achievement Program is used to support the goal of eliminating disparities pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a). It is the intent of the Legislature that colleges prioritize funding for high-need and disadvantaged students, as those terms are defined in subdivision (c) of Section 78221.

(5) (A) The chancellor may allocate up to 5 percent of the total funds appropriated for the purposes of this program for state administrative operations to carry out the intent of this section.

(B) Of the amount allocated pursuant to subparagraph (A), the chancellor shall allocate to a community college district no less than the amount that was provided to a district in the 2017-18 fiscal year pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 88815 to carry out faculty and staff development to improve curriculum, instruction, student services, and program practices in the areas of foundational skills and English as a second language program.

(6) By April 1 of each year, the chancellor’s office shall submit a systemwide report to the Legislature and Department of Finance that provides a summary of the district reports referenced in paragraph (6) of subdivision (b). A report to the Legislature pursuant to this paragraph shall be submitted in compliance with § 9795 of the Government Code.

(d) (1) All districts receiving an allocation of funds pursuant to subdivision (c) shall comply with the requirements of Section 78214. In meeting this requirement, the Student Success and Support Program referenced in Section 78214 means the Student Equity and Achievement Program.

(2) For purposes of Section 87482.3, the Student Success and Support Program means the Student Equity and Achievement Program.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 465, Sec. 7. (AB 2973) Effective January 1, 2023.)