SECTIONS 11300-11301 - California Statutes

EDUCATION CODE

SECTION 11300-11301

11300. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that middle college
high schools have proven to be a highly effective collaborative
effort between local school districts and community colleges. The
goal of the middle college high school is to select at-risk high
school students who are performing below their academic potential and
place them in an alternative high school located on a community
college campus in order to reduce the likelihood that they will drop
out of school before graduation.
(b) Each middle college high school shall be structured as a
broad-based, comprehensive instructional program focusing on college
preparatory and school-to-work curricula, career education, work
experience, community service, and support and motivational
activities.
(c) The specific design of a middle college high school may vary
depending on the circumstances of the community college or school
district. The basic elements of the middle college high school shall
include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) A curriculum that focuses on college and career preparation.
(2) A reduced adult-student ratio.
(3) Flexible scheduling to allow for work internships, community
service experience, and interaction with community college student
role models.
(4) Opportunities for experiential internships, work
apprenticeships, and community service.

11301. (a) The California Community Colleges and the State
Department of Education shall collaborate with each other and with
their respective local community colleges and local school districts
to ensure the continued success of existing middle college high
schools and to promote the establishment of new middle college high
schools.
(b) The responsibilities of the California Community Colleges and
the State Department of Education pursuant to subdivision (a) shall
include, but need not be limited to, the following:
(1) With respect to existing middle college high schools, monitor
the ongoing viability of the programs, assist with the resolution of
policy or financial issues that may arise, and track specific
outcomes for students and schools, including attendance rates,
graduation rates, college entrance and attendance rates, and
employment rates for those students who do not attend college.
(2) With respect to the promotion of new middle college high
schools, respond to inquiries from school districts and community
colleges about the establishment of middle college high schools,
advise local entities on startup costs and ongoing funding mechanisms
for the program, consult with local entities on the organizational
structure of, and curriculum development for, the middle college high
schools, facilitate the completion of any necessary facilities
improvements, communicate with local entities at least biannually
about the existence of middle college high schools and the
availability of State Department of Education and California
Community Colleges resources, if any, to assist with the
establishment of middle college high schools.