WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

AB 1217

Public postsecondary education: admissions standards and criteria.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Fong and 1 co-sponsor

Requires CSU to implement a revised LEA course-submission process by Jan 1, 2028, aligning high school courses with State Board K–12 standards; UC alignment encouraged.

In committee: Held under submission.
#publicpostsecondaryeducation #admissionsstandardsandcriteria
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · AB 1217

AB 1217 (Fong) — Summary: Public postsecondary education — admissions standards and criteria

Status: In committee; held under submission (last action: 2025-05-23)
Introduced: February 21, 2025
Subject: Public postsecondary education; admissions standards and criteria
Code sections amended: Education Code §66204 and §66205

Purpose / Intent

AB 1217 seeks to better align California’s public university admissions standards and course‑certification processes with the K–12 instructional guidance adopted by the State Board of Education (content standards, subject frameworks, and the state model curriculum). The bill is largely framed as legislative intent and requests to the University of California (UC), while directing the California State University (CSU) to update a course review process by a specified date.

Key provisions

  • Amends Education Code §66204 (high school course access/certification)

    • Reaffirms the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s role in helping districts ensure access to a college‑preparatory core and in making UC‑certified course lists available to students.
    • Requests that the University of California align the admission‑requirement criteria used to review and certify high school courses with the State Board’s content standards, frameworks, and model curriculum for the applicable subject.
    • Continues to request UC assistance to help districts understand and manage the course submission/certification process.

  • Amends Education Code §66205 (admissions standards and criteria)

    • States legislative intent that, when determining undergraduate admissions standards, the UC and CSU governing boards should develop standards based on the State Board’s content standards, frameworks, and model curriculum for the applicable subject area.
    • Requires consultation with the State Board before adopting or changing undergraduate admissions standards and broadly consult with California’s diverse communities.
    • Retains intent language encouraging fair, understandable admissions processes and consideration of applicants with course deficiencies caused by circumstances beyond their control.

  • Model academic standards and course review process

    • Encourages postsecondary faculty developing model academic standards to consult with the State Board and the Instructional Quality Commission and to strive for alignment with state K–12 standards.
    • Requires CSU, and requests UC, to develop and implement a revised process (to be completed on or before January 1, 2028) for local educational agencies (LEAs) to annually submit courses for review/certification as meeting model academic standards.

Who is affected

  • California State University (required to act) and University of California (requested to act)
  • State Board of Education and Instructional Quality Commission (consultation role)
  • Local educational agencies, high schools, and teachers (course development, submission, certification)
  • High school students and college applicants (potential clearer alignment between K–12 curriculum and university admissions expectations)

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced 02/21/2025 by Assemblymember Fong.
  • Passed through Assembly Higher Education and Education committees with amendments; re‑referred to Assembly Appropriations (suspense file).
  • Required deadline: CSU to implement revised LEA course‑submission process by January 1, 2028.
  • As of 05/23/2025, the bill was held under submission in committee.

Potential impact

  • Could increase alignment between high school curricula and university admissions criteria, reducing mismatches and simplifying course certification and student advising.
  • Mostly nonbinding (requests and legislative intent) except for the statutory requirement that CSU implement a revised submission process by 2028.
  • May create administrative work for CSU/UC, LEAs, and the State Board related to consultation and annual course review; fiscal implications were referred to the fiscal committee.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.