WHEREAS, California institutions of higher education seek to prove established residency and a documented intent to remain in California for the purposes of tuition cost, and many formerly incarcerated individuals encounter substantial challenges in proving their residency status and community ties due to the constraints of their prior incarceration which affects their ability to access in-state tuition and essential educational resources, beyond parole plans, which are a legal agreement between a previously incarcerated individual and the state of California that states a previous offender has agreed to, and will, remain within a chosen community within the state of California where they have support [1][2][3][4][5];
WHEREAS, Education serves as a powerful tool for reintegration into society, and providing equitable access to higher education for formerly incarcerated individuals can significantly reduce recidivism rates, thus enhancing public safety and the overall well-being of California communities [6][7];
WHEREAS, Research indicates that providing educational opportunities to formerly incarcerated individuals significantly decreases recidivism rates, demonstrating that access to education plays a critical role in breaking the cycle of incarceration and reoffending [9][10][11][12][13]; and
WHEREAS, The Student Senate of California Community Colleges recognizes the imperative to create inclusive educational environments that empower all students, including those who have faced barriers due to prior incarceration, thereby fostering greater diversity and representation within California’s education system [14][15][16][17][18][19]; Now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges strongly urge the administration to recognize parole plans as legitimate evidence of intent to remain in California, thus establishing residency for in-state tuition qualifications;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for collaboration between the California Community College system and local organizations to support the inclusion of parole plans in efforts to enhance access to higher education for formerly incarcerated individuals;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for the adoption of policies that acknowledge parole plans as valid documentation of community ties, ensuring that formerly incarcerated students face no undue barriers in their educational pursuits; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges forward this resolution to the relevant stakeholders, including the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, Chancellor’s Office, and other pertinent organizations to promote equitable access to higher education for all students.
Citations:
[1] Rising Scholars Program Overview. (2024). https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/academics/rising- scholarsprogram/index.html#:~:text=The%20Rising%20Scholars%20Program%20is,for%20personal%20and%20academic%20growth.
[2] UC RESIDENCE POLICY AND GUIDELINES 2024 -25 ACADEMIC YEAR (2024).
https://www.ucop.edu/residency/rpg-2024-25-final-10.07.24.pdf
[3] State Residency Requirements for In-State Tuition (2024) https://www.savingforcollege.com/article/stateresidency- requirements-for-in-
statetuition#:~:text=They%20want%20to%20be%20sure,temporary%20residence)%20in%20the%20state.
[4] California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. (2006). “Preventing Parolees From Returning to Prison Through Community-Based Reintegration.” https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00111287052825945 https://www.psu.edu/news/social-science-research-institute/story/how-do-formerly-incarceratedindividualsnavigate-community
[5] California Community Colleges “Residency for Tuition Purposes Overview.” https://www.cccco.edu//media/CCCCO-Website/docs/manuals-
guides/2024ResidencyOverviewDocument2142024.pdf?la=en&hash=188901A2AC53093A19818A8C351845ABC4ABBB05
[6]California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. (2020). “Transition Programs.” https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/rehabilitation/transitions/
[7]https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/parole/housing-live-in-residence/
[9] Brookings. (2024). “A better path forward for criminal justice: Training and employment for correctional populations.” https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/6_Better-Path-Forward_Ch6_Training-a nd-Employment.pdf
[10 ] https://irle.berkeley.edu/publications/student-publication/benefits-of-… incarceratedpeople/
[11] Lois M. Davis, Robert Bozick, Jennifer L. Steele, Jessica Saunders, Jeremy N. V. Miles. (2013).“Evaluating the Effectiveness of Correctional Education: A Meta -Analysis of Programs That Provide Education to Incarcerated Adults.” RAND Corporation. https://bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/Publications/RAND_Cor… -Analysis.pdf 12 https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeseq/2021/07/01/postsecondary-education-in-prison-benefitscommunities- andsaves-taxpayer-dollars
[13] https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/downloads/5712md01w?
[14] California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. (2020). “Student Equity.” https://www.cccco.edu/About - Us/Chancellors-Office/Divisions/Educational-Services-and-Suppor t/Student-Service/What-we-do/StudentEquity#:~:text=Equity%20plans%20are%20focused%20on,addressing%20disparities%20that%20are%20discovered
[15] Bakersfield College “Our Mission.” https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/about/index.html
[16] Bakersfield College “Our Vision.” https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/about/index.html
[17] National Education Association. (2016). “National Education Association Policy Statements 2022 -2023.” https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/2024-01/nea-policy-on-safe-just… 22.pdf
[18] Bakersfield College “Our Values.” https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/about/index.html
[19] Florida Online Journals. “Examining the Tie That Binds: The Importance of Community to Student Success in Online Courses.” https://journals.flvc.org/jpss/article/download/131190/134896