Tens of millions of dollars to support community college students included in 2021-22 state budget
SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) released the following statement in response to the Legislature’s passage of the 2021-2022 State Budget:
“Today the Legislature passed a budget poised to help every Californian bounce back/recover after fifteen long months of uncertainty and hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Assemblymember Marc Berman. “With the good fortune of having significant, unanticipated resources, we are able to make critical and direly needed investments in homelessness and housing, education, and small business support.
“In addition, I could not be prouder to have spearheaded two student-centered initiatives which received funding in the budget. At alarming rates, community college students are having to ask themselves, ‘Do I pay rent this month or buy textbooks for my classes? Should I take an extra shift at work to afford groceries or should I attend class?’ After several years of advocating for students’ basic needs, I am thrilled we are allocating $30 million in ongoing funds for every campus to establish a basic needs center and hire a basic needs coordinator, in addition to investing $10 million in a common course numbering system for community colleges that will save students much needed time and money whilst simultaneously making it easier to transfer and earn their degree. Student success is critical to the California Comeback and with these critically important investments, we are well on our way.”
Contact: Elizabeth Schmitt, (916) 319-2024