Atascadero Unified School District trustees voted to recognize Atascadero High School’s Early College Program beginning in the 2025–26 school year, a change district staff said will let more students take community college courses without triggering state attendance or credit limits.

District administrators told the board the recognition is intended to resolve scheduling conflicts that arose when auditors and the Chancellor’s Office re‑emphasized the College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) rules this spring. “This has sent our families, our students, and our teachers into turmoil over the last week, week and a half,” said Mr. Weatherly during public comment about the timing of the change. Staff said the Early College Program uses Education Code 11302 definitions for early college programs and allows cohorts of students to earn high school diplomas and up to two years of college credit while meeting a reduced high‑school instructional‑minute threshold.

Why it matters: Under the CCAP rules as enforced by auditors, students enrolled in community college courses must maintain 240 minutes of daily high school instruction to remain treated as part‑time and to avoid becoming full‑time college students. District staff reported about 150 student schedules initially were at risk of failing that 240‑minute threshold; the early college program model cuts that number to about 50, staff said. District staff also estimated the district receives roughly $12,000 per average daily attendance (ADA) and said a 25 percent reduction in ADA for an affected student would translate to about $3,000 in annual revenue per student, though staff said they are still quantifying the final impact.

Details of the program: Mr. Rossi, the district presenter, said an Early College Program permits cohorts to meet a minimum of 180 daily minutes of high‑school instruction while taking up to 11 community‑college credits per semester, which fits the district’s seven‑period day by allowing students to take four high‑school and three community‑college courses. Mr. Rossi said the district had confirmed program requirements with the California Department of Education, the California Commission on Early and Middle Colleges, and the district’s auditor. He said district counselors are meeting with affected juniors and seniors to finalize enrollments and that Cuesta College remains the partner for course offerings.

Board action and next steps: A trustee moved and the board approved recognition of the program by roll call. Staff said they will continue counselor outreach to students, finalize the cohort roster with Cuesta College, and expand degree and certificate pathways in partnership with Cuesta across the 2025–26 school year.

Quotes and attributions are drawn from public comment and staff presentations to the board; direct quotes are attributed to Mr. Weatherly and Mr. Rossi as they spoke at the meeting.