Copyright© 2000 by School Services of California, Inc.
Audit Guide Requirements for K-12 Students
Concurrently
Enrolled in Public Higher Education Could Affect
Community College Enrollment
The Department of Finance is pushing stricter compliance using audit guide requirements for K-12 school districts that permit 11th and 12th grade students to concurrently enroll in public higher education institutions. In 1996 legislation (SB 292/Chapter 298) was signed into law that clarified a day of attendance in grades 11 and 12 is 180 minutes if the pupil is enrolled part-time in classes of the University of California, California State University and California community colleges.
In 1998, the Department of Finance proposed revisions to the K-12 Audit Guide to require K-12 governing boards to include in their minutes the approval of any student to attend community college courses held in community college facilities or face loss of apportionment. This compliance language was opposed at that time and in practice the attendance of concurrently enrolled K-12 students had been approved with the recommendation of the student's principal, parents and college president. The concurrent enrollment compliance language was removed in 1999.
The Department of Finance has simply duplicated the compliance requirements that were in the 1998 Audit Guide for inclusion in the 2000 Audit Guide proposed changes. If adopted, K-12 districts that are audited for compliance with the provisions of law concerning concurrently enrolled students could be penalized if their board meetings (minutes) do not reflect Board approval for students concurrently enrolled in higher education institutions. K-12 districts that have calculated average daily attendance for any pupils who did not have the permission of the district governing board to enroll in public higher education, would be required to prepare a schedule, to include in the audit report, a summary of the number of such pupils and the amount of ADA over-reported.
There is a general belief that these audit requirements go beyond the scope
of existing law. Discussion on this topic and other audit guide changes may
be resolved in early 2001. Further Update articles will keep you informed
of the outcome of these discussions and potential impact on community colleges
if K-12 districts must adhere to stricter guidelines before permitting their
students to attend community colleges.
--Arnold Bray