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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
appropriation; Maricopa community college district
Purpose
Outlines guidelines and requirements for the Achieving A College Education Program (ACE Program). Appropriates $2,000,000 from the state General Fund (GF) in FY 2022 to the Maricopa County Community College District (Maricopa Community Colleges).
Background
Statute defines a community college as an educational institution that is operated by a district board and provides programs not exceeding two years beyond grade 12 of the public or private course of study or vocational education, including terminal courses of a technical and vocational nature and basic adult education courses (A.R.S. § 15-1401).
The ACE Program supports students who may not consider going to college to attain a baccalaureate degree. The ACE Program enrolls high school juniors and seniors at over 100 high schools in concurrent college courses to ensure a smooth transition from high school through community college on to completing a bachelor's degree at a university. Students must meet certain financial criteria in order to qualify for the ACE program (Maricopa Community Colleges).
S.B. 1342 appropriates $2,000,000 from the state GF in FY 2022 to the Maricopa Community Colleges.
Provisions
1. Appropriates $2,000,000 from the state GF in FY 2022 to the Maricopa Community Colleges for the ACE Program.
2. Specifies $500,000 of the appropriated monies for ACE Program students enrolled in career and technical education courses.
3. Directs the Maricopa Community Colleges to spend appropriated monies to:
a) increase participation in the ACE Program among high school students; and
b) pay tuition for ACE Program participants to enroll in concurrent college and summer courses, and weekend classes.
4. States that the ACE Program should result in an increased number of Native American students completing high school and successfully transitioning to higher education while improving college completion rates for participating students.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 29, 2021
JO/JS/gs