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Board endorses shared advocacy addendum as governor proposes major investment in career education and technology
Summary
Following Governor Newsom's budget proposal, the board approved an addendum to the system's shared advocacy request. The proposal highlights major one-time and ongoing investments in the Career Education Master Plan, including technology platforms, credit-for-prior-learning, and a $30 million ongoing boost for the Rising Scholars program.
Board members reviewed Governor Newsom's Jan. 10 proposed 2025-26 state budget and voted to approve an addendum to the California Community Colleges' shared advocacy request to pursue additional items during the spring budget process.
Chancellor's Office staff and Executive Vice Chancellor Chris Ferguson summarized the budget highlights most relevant to the system: the governor proposed roughly $330 million in 1-time funding for a common cloud data platform and roughly $168 million for phase 2 of a statewide technology transformation, plus $29 million ongoing for a statewide technology platform. The January proposal also includes a $50 million 1-time and $7 million ongoing package to scale credit for prior learning and career passport infrastructure, and $30 million ongoing for the Rising Scholars program to extend access for incarcerated and justice-impacted learners.
David O'Brien, vice chancellor for government relations, said the chancellor's office saw close alignment between the governor's proposal and the board's system budget request. The board voted to add three items to the system's shared advocacy request: a $60 million expansion of the California Apprenticeship Initiative to grow registered apprenticeships; a new round of state-issued lease revenue bonds to support up to 35 affordable student-housing projects; and authority for the chancellor's office to recover costs for highly resource-intensive data requests from outside entities. The board approved the addendum in a recorded vote.
Why it matters: The governor's technology and credit-for-prior-learning investments, if enacted, would underpin the Career Education Master Plan and scale digital tools such as program-pathway mapping and transcript portability across the system. The apprenticeship and housing addendum items reflect board and district priorities around workforce development and student housing affordability.
Board action: The board approved the addendum to the 2025 system budget and legislative request, authorizing staff to pursue the additional apprenticeship funding, a second round of lease revenue bonds for student housing, and legislative authority for limited fee-for-service data work.
Next steps: Chancellor's Office staff said they will continue negotiations with the administration and legislature through the spring budget and May revise, and will return to the board with implementation details if funds are secured.
