Assembly Bill 1871 (Fong): Expanding College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) Partnerships - HOPE SPONSORED BILL

Thank you for your engagement in policymaking in California. Dual enrollment plays a critical role in expanding access to higher education, and we appreciate your interest in supporting efforts to reduce barriers for students. HOPE is committed to sponsoring AB 1871 (Fong), and with the support of organizations and individuals like you, we are hopeful this bill will move through the legislative process and reach the finish line.

The Challenge

Dual enrollment programs allow high school students to earn both high school and college credit, creating early pathways to higher education. However, access remains uneven across California.

Approximately 82% of California high schools have no students enrolled in community college courses. Barriers such as complex application processes, limited course availability, and a lack of flexible or online options continue to limit participation, particularly for students who may not already see college as an attainable pathway.

The Solution

AB 1871 strengthens California’s College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) partnerships by expanding and simplifying access to dual enrollment opportunities. The bill:

Eliminates the principal recommendation requirement
Streamlines enrollment through a single application and parent consent form
Expands access to up to 15 college units per term
Improves accountability by tracking student progress toward key educational milestones

These reforms help more students get an early start on college, stay on track academically, and build clearer pathways toward higher education and career success.

CA2025-2026AB 1871

Pupil instruction: dual enrollment: College and Career Access Pathways partnerships.

Last Action

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

Senate • Jun 17, 2026

Latest Version

02/12/26 - Introduced

Consideration • Senate Appropriations

Jun 29, 2026 10:00am

1021 O Street, Room 2200

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Your Message to the legislators

Dear (name and title inserted automatically),

I write to express my strong for Assembly Bill 1871 (Fong), sponsored by HOPE, which strengthens California’s College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) partnerships by removing student-level barriers and improving equitable access to dual enrollment opportunities.

California has long recognized dual enrollment as one of the most effective strategies for accelerating college access, reducing time to degree, and improving completion outcomes particularly for first-generation students, students from historically underrepresented communities, and those who may be undecided about pursuing higher education. However, despite strong statewide investment, access to CCAP programs remains uneven, and students continue to face administrative and structural barriers that limit participation.

CCAP partnerships are designed to provide early exposure to college coursework for students who may not otherwise see themselves as college-bound or who are underrepresented in higher education. Yet implementation challenges including complex application processes, inconsistent access to participation data, and course limitations can undermine the program’s intent and restrict student opportunity.

AB 1871 (Fong) addresses these challenges in practical and meaningful ways. The bill removes the requirement for principal approval of individual CCAP applications, reducing unnecessary gatekeeping that can delay or discourage participation. It also streamlines the application process by allowing a single submission across a student’s CCAP participation, lowering administrative burden for both students and institutions. In addition, the bill strengthens state-level data reporting to improve program evaluation and expand transparency around student outcomes. Finally, it eliminates the four-course per term limit while maintaining the existing unit cap, allowing students greater flexibility to engage in dual enrollment pathways aligned with their academic goals.

These reforms build on California’s longstanding commitment to expanding dual enrollment and ensuring equitable access to higher education pathways. For these reasons, I respectfully urge your support for AB 1871 (Fong) and thank you for your leadership in strengthening opportunities for California students.
HOPE’s sponsorship of AB 1871 reflects its commitment to advancing educational opportunity for all. When more students succeed in college and career pathways, entire communities benefit through greater economic stability, stronger leadership representation, and increased civic participation. Expanding equitable access to dual enrollment strengthens California’s future workforce and creates pathways to long-term prosperity for students, families, and communities.

To learn more about HOPE’s 2026 Legislative Priorities, please visit latinas.org/leg-priorities.

Thank you for your consideration and your commitment to expanding educational opportunity and strengthening pathways to college and career success for students across California.