BizFed has written to Sen. Gloria Romero, chair of the Senate Education Committee, this week in support of legislation that would incentivize community colleges to boost completion rates. Here is the text of the letter that was sent April 12, 2010:

Dear Senator Romero, 

On behalf of the Los Angeles County Business Federation, which represents more than 70 organizations with well over 100,000 businesses across the region, we are writing to seek your support of SB 1143 (Liu).   

This bill establishes a framework for allocating state funds to community colleges in a manner that provides incentives for community colleges to assist students in completing coursework in which they enroll and required to earn a certificate or degree.  

BizFed believes this legislation is vital to help ensure a strong and educated workforce that will be crucial to the continuing economic vitality of California. 

It is clearly vital that California must raise completion rates and create more pathways for students to earn a degree or certificate: A recent PPIC study found there will be a million-person gap by 2025 in college-educated state workers for the technologically sophisticated economy of the future.   

To reach the education levels of the most competitive economies, we must dramatically increase the number of students earning college degrees each year. SB 1143 is an important part of this solution.

SB 1143 along with other efforts, including a renewed commitment to gradually increasing California’s investment in higher education, would fund course completion in addition to course enrollment as incentive for colleges to ensure that students get the academic, student, and/or financial support services needed to remain enrolled. 

In the future, one in every three jobs will require an Associate Degree or higher, and there is no doubt that increasing student success will have long-term benefits for California’s economy.   

Thank you for your consideration of this vital issue. BizFed commends your leadership.