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Assembly hears request to more than double Rising Scholars funding while LAO urges caution pending outcome data
Summary
The governor proposes $30 million ongoing to expand the Rising Scholars Network serving currently and formerly incarcerated students; the Chancellor's Office supports expansion, the LAO urged waiting for evaluation results.
The subcommittee considered the governor's proposal to increase ongoing funding for the Rising Scholars Network, a program that serves currently and formerly incarcerated students.
Justin Hurst from the Department of Finance described the proposal as a $30 million ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund augmentation that would raise total program funding to $55 million and would include trailer bill language to remove the cap on participating colleges (statute currently lists up to 65 colleges).
Lisa King of the LAO said she appreciates support for incarcerated and justice‑impacted students but warned the Legislature lacks outcome data to justify a major expansion now. King noted the most recent state report predates state funding for Rising Scholars and that a state‑funded evaluation (authorized in 2022–23) has not yet begun. "We think the legislature will be in a better position to revisit funding for Rising Scholars after it receives information on the program outcomes to date," King said.
Chris Ferguson of the Chancellor's Office described program growth: the Chancellor's Office reported the Rising Scholars Network includes about 93 community colleges serving roughly 26 correctional institutions and said program enrollment rose about 28.4% to nearly 20,000 students through spring 2024. Ferguson said the trailer bill would lift the cap and enable additional colleges to receive funding. Sacramento City College's Rising Scholars director offered public comment describing campus impact on justice‑impacted students and urged additional funds.
The LAO recommended options that could alternatively support justice‑impacted students including modifying the SCFF to include performance components for incarcerated students and leveraging federal Pell eligibility to free up state funds. Committee members asked for more information on program evaluation timelines; the Chancellor's Office said a system evaluation procurement is underway and cautioned it may be several years before five‑year outcomes are available. The subcommittee held the item open.
