California Legal Codes and Statutes

Article 6 - Support Services for Justice-Involved Students

California Education Code — §§ 78070-78076

Sections (7)

§ 78070

Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 558, Sec. 2. (AB 417) Effective January 1, 2022.

For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:

(a)“Justice-involved” means a person who is currently or formerly incarcerated in a California correctional facility, or currently or formerly detained in a juvenile facility.
(b)“Rising Scholars Network” means the program established pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 78071.
§ 78071

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 9, Sec. 8. (AB 123) Effective June 27, 2025.

(a)The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges may establish a program to enter into agreements with community colleges to provide additional funds for services in support of postsecondary education for justice-involved students. This program shall be known as the Rising Scholars Network, and shall expand the number of justice-involved students participating and succeeding in the community colleges and shall not displace other students.
(b)A community college district that wishes to participate in the Rising Scholars Network shall apply to the board of governors for funding pursuant to this article. The application of each participating community

college district shall identify the Rising Scholars college or colleges in the district, and shall include, but not be limited to, the number of justice-involved students who will be served. The application shall also describe the extent of cooperation between the college and local criminal justice stakeholders, including, as applicable, wardens, county sheriffs, juvenile facilities, and probation departments. Beginning in the 2025–26 fiscal year, the board of governors may prioritize funding provided in the annual Budget Act for applications submitted pursuant to this article that demonstrate positive student outcomes consistent with the goals and guidance described in Section 78072.

(c)To the maximum extent feasible, funds received by a

community college under this article shall be used for, but not be limited to, any of the following supports and services:

(1)Providing any of the following for programs serving all justice-involved students, whether on campus or in custody:
(A)Academic counseling or advising that provides clear pathways.
(B)Academic tutoring.
(C)Financial aid information and application assistance.
(D)Frequent in-person contact.
(E)Professional development for faculty and staff.
(2)Providing any of the following for programs serving formerly incarcerated students on

campus:

(A)Peer-to-peer support or mentoring.
(B)Assistance with accessing campus resources, including admissions, financial aid, and student services.
(C)Career counseling and, as feasible, placement services.
(D)Assistance with accessing community resources, including record clearance, housing assistance, mental health support, and social services.
(3)Providing either of the following for programs serving currently incarcerated or detained students:
(A)Transitional materials and services to support students in enrollment and persistence in higher education upon release.
(B)Parity of academic supports and services as provided on campus.
§ 78072

Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 558, Sec. 2. (AB 417) Effective January 1, 2022.

The board of governors shall adopt regulations for the Rising Scholars Network that fulfill the following goals and guidance:

(a)Participating colleges designate a staff program director, coordinator, or liaison who has experience working with currently or formerly incarcerated students.
(b)Funded programs are supported with a dedicated campus meeting space.
(c)Funded programs build support and competency from a broad range of college stakeholders.
(d)Participating colleges offer and make accessible a range of student supports to address academic and nonacademic

needs.

(e)Funded programs foster peer mentors, as applicable.
(f)Funded programs develop and maintain strong relationships with external partners, including community-based programs, probation, parole, and county jails.
(g)Participating colleges provide or connect justice-involved students with direct student financial support for critical needs.
(h)Funded programs outreach and respond to prospective justice-involved students, particularly those in jail or prison.
(i)Funded programs help justice-involved students apply, matriculate, and persist to graduation.
§ 78073

Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 558, Sec. 2. (AB 417) Effective January 1, 2022.

The board of governors shall be responsible for the administration of funds for the Rising Scholars Network. To the extent possible, services provided under this article to justice-involved students shall be coordinated with, and shall not supplant, other services provided by the county and state.

§ 78074

Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 558, Sec. 2. (AB 417) Effective January 1, 2022.

The board of governors may authorize the chancellor, consistent with the requirements the board may impose, to designate up to 5 percent of the funds allocated pursuant to this article for program administration, program development, and program accountability.

§ 78075

Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 558, Sec. 2. (AB 417) Effective January 1, 2022.

Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, on or before December 31, 2023, and every two years thereafter, the board of governors shall submit a report to the Department of Finance and all relevant legislative policy and budget subcommittees describing its efforts to serve justice-involved students. The reports shall include recommendations on whether and how the Rising Scholars Network under this article can be expanded to all community college districts and campuses.

§ 78076

Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 558, Sec. 2. (AB 417) Effective January 1, 2022.

This article shall be operative in a fiscal year only if funds have been appropriated for purposes of this article for that fiscal year by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute.