Public postsecondary education.

California's Senate Education Committee proposes substantial changes to transfer pathways between community colleges and four-year institutions, while also expanding support for foster care education programs. The legislation establishes the California General Education Transfer Curriculum as the standard transfer pathway beginning fall 2025, replacing existing transfer requirements for California State University admission.

The bill modifies transfer requirements for associate degrees, mandating completion of the new California General Education Transfer Curriculum rather than current options like the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum or CSU General Education-Breadth Requirements. Students who begin their transfer preparation before fall 2025 may complete existing patterns with appropriate certification. The legislation maintains the requirement of 60 transferable semester units, including 18 units in a major or emphasis area.

For foster care education, the measure renames the Foster Care Education Program to the Foster and Kinship Care Education Program, expanding its scope to serve resource families. The program's funds must be used exclusively for resource family education and training, with oversight from an advisory committee including resource parents, foster parent organizations, care providers, county child welfare representatives, and state social services officials. Community colleges receiving these funds must develop plans in consultation with county child welfare agencies to facilitate foster family homes serving children with special needs.

The bill requires collaboration between the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, the Academic Senate, and public university systems to implement these changes. Community colleges must create associate degrees aligned with approved transfer model curricula within specified timeframes, while universities must articulate lower-division courses and maintain clear degree pathways for transfer students.