Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Manager
Subject: Measure K: Agreement with the San Mateo County Community College District
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with the San Mateo County Community College District to support the Promise Scholars Program for an amount not to exceed $2,000,000 for the term July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023.
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BACKGROUND:
On March 9, 2021 and March 23, 2021, the Board of Supervisors held two study sessions at its regularly scheduled public meetings at which the County Manager’s Office presented on anticipated Measure K revenues and Board priorities for Measure K allocations for the upcoming FY 2021-23 budget cycle. At these meetings, the County Manager’s Office stated that there was an estimated $13 million in Measure K funding each fiscal year for one-time expenditures available for Board prioritization. After these study sessions, the Board directed the County Manager’s Office to take appropriate actions for the Board to allocate $1 million each fiscal year of this available funding (i.e., in FY 2021-2022 and 2022-2023) to support college education for all.
DISCUSSION:
To remove barriers to attending community college and progressing through college and to increase student completion rates, the San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) has created the Promise Scholars Program (PSP). The PSP is modeled on the City University of New York’s Accelerated Studies for Associates Program, - a proven model that significantly increases graduation rates for full-time students over a three-year period.
The PSP provides up to three years of financial, academic and personalized student services for first time, full-time SMCCCD students who have, as an educational goal, earning a certificate or associate degree. The PSP is designed to remove barriers that too often prevent students from successfully achieving their educational goals. The program includes the Promise Scholarship, a dedicated counselor-delivering, personalized academic and socio-cultural support, and performance-centered interventions. SMCCCD Promise Scholars also receive a monthly incentive ($50 for either transportation or meal plan support), a voucher for books and course materials, and access to loaned laptops. The primary goal of PSP is to triple students’ current two-year and three-year graduation rates.
SMCCCD estimates it will have served 2,000 students through PSP in FY 2020-21. While funding for PSP comes from multiple sources, San Mateo County Measure K funding will allow the PSP to support approximately 500 additional students across the district’s three colleges in FY 2021-22 and FY 2022-23. Measure K funds will be used to provide students with the PSP support described above (i.e., tuition, academic support, textbooks, and monthly incentives).
FISCAL IMPACT:
Measure K funding for the PSP in the amount of $1,000,000 each year has been included in the Non-Departmental Services Approved Recommended Budget for FY 2021-22 and FY 2022-23. There is no Net County Cost associated with this Agreement.