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AB 2660

Public postsecondary education: intersegmental partnerships: STEM education.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Juan Alanis and 7 co-sponsors

Creates a state-wide, end-to-end STEM pathway (Cal-Bridge and ENLACE) across CCC, CSU, and UC to broaden access, support, and diversify pathways from K-12 to STEM PhDs and faculty.

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on APPR.
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Bill Summary · AB 2660

Overview

AB 2660 would create and govern two intersegmental programs in California’s public higher education system to strengthen STEM education and diversify the pipeline to PhD programs, academia, and the STEM workforce. The bill establishes the Cal-Bridge Program (a fully intersegmental partnership among CCC, CSU, and UC) and the ENLACE Program (an independent, collaborative program) to guide students from high school through undergraduate and graduate studies in STEM fields.

Main purpose and intent

  • Create a comprehensive, end-to-end pathway to increase the number of California students from diverse backgrounds who pursue STEM PhDs and become faculty, leaders in academia, or leaders in the technology industry.
  • Build a coordinated ecosystem across the state’s public segments (Community Colleges, California State University, and University of California) to broaden access to STEM disciplines and build a more diverse STEM workforce.
  • Provide structured support, research opportunities, mentoring, and financial assistance across multiple stages of education and career development.

Key provisions and changes

  • Establishment of Cal-Bridge Program
    • A fully intersegmental program among CCC, CSU, and UC; administratively housed at a CSU or UC campus but independent from the three segments.
    • Goals include: preparing students to apply to STEM PhD programs (with emphasis on UC PhD pathways), offering summer research experiences, supporting PhD attainment and future faculty/leadership roles, providing postdoctoral opportunities, and maintaining an ongoing scholar-faculty support network.
    • Five subprograms: 1) Cal-Bridge Undergraduate Program: mentorship, undergraduate degree financial support, professional development for PhD applications, and research opportunities (target disciplines include physics, astronomy, computer science, computer engineering, mathematics, statistics). 2) Cal-Bridge Summer Program: summer research experiences at UC or other research sites. 3) Cal-Bridge Doctoral Program: financial support for PhD completion, pedagogy and research leadership development, mentorship, and expanded eligibility for participants who previously engaged in related programs. 4) Cal-Bridge Postdoctoral Program: two-year postdoctoral positions; UC/CSU scholars receive on-campus research opportunities; CSU postdocs teach as instructors of record. 5) Cal-Bridge FAST Program: a prep track for CCC students to join the Cal-Bridge pathway, including week-long workshops and targeted STEM research opportunities.
  • Establishment of ENLACE Program
    • An operationally independent program collaborating with Cal-Bridge to support STEM workforce development across the state.
    • ENLACE K–12 High School and Undergraduate Program:
    • Provides support for students from high school through undergraduate studies across all STEM disciplines at CCC, CSU, and UC campuses.
    • Includes mentorship, academic support, research opportunities, and guidance on pathways to advanced STEM degrees and careers.
    • High School component includes summer STEM research experiences at UC campuses for qualified 11th graders transitioning to 12th grade.
  • Inter-program collaboration
    • The two programs are designed to work together to maximize statewide STEM workforce development, with a view toward leveraging distinct pathways from high school through doctoral and professional degrees.
  • Funding and administration
    • Funds appropriated for Cal-Bridge may be used for scholar support, summer research, postdoctoral salaries/benefits, development activities, faculty stipends, leadership roles, and administrative costs.
    • Funds appropriated for ENLACE may be used for ENLACE program activities or student summer research opportunities.
  • UC applicability
    • The Cal-Bridge and ENLACE programs apply to UC only to the extent the UC Regents authorize application via appropriate resolution.

Who would be affected

  • Public postsecondary students in STEM across California (CCC, CSU, and UC systems) who participate in Cal-Bridge and ENLACE programs.
  • STEM undergraduate students, community college students, and high school students who would engage in mentorship, research experiences, and pathway activities.
  • Faculty, postdocs, and administrators involved in mentoring, leadership roles, and program administration.
  • The University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges as program participants and potential hosts/administrative sites.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative status: Passed multiple key milestones in 2026 (first introduced Feb 2026; amendments and committee considerations through spring 2026; final actions in May 2026 with third-reading and passage in the Assembly; moved to Senate).
  • Implementation timing would depend on appropriations and UC Regents’ alignment; the article states UC applicability is contingent on Regents’ authorization.
  • Funding allocations would be authorized to support various program components (undergraduate, doctoral, postdoctoral, FAST, summer research, and ENLACE activities), with explicit allowances for stipends, salaries, travel, and administrative costs.

Summary of potential impact

  • Creates a durable, state-wide STEM pathway that can increase access, retention, and success of diverse students in STEM fields from K–12 through doctoral levels.
  • Aims to grow California’s STEM professorate and leadership in tech by providing mentorship, research experiences, and financial support at multiple career stages.
  • Seeks to strengthen collaboration across the state’s public higher education segments, potentially expanding opportunities and diversifying the STEM workforce and academic leadership in California.

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

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