(a)
A pupil who signs a pledge declares a commitment to prepare for college, finish high school, and enroll in college and commits to do all of the following:
(1)
Meet all graduation requirements to finish high school in California.
(2)
Enroll in college preparatory coursework, which may include career technical coursework and the course requirements for admission to the University of California and the California State University.
(3)
Seek to achieve proficiency in mathematics and in reading and writing in English, as demonstrated by results on the Standardized Testing and Reporting Program pursuant to Section 60640. Pupils attending nonpublic schools, which do not participate in the Standardized Testing and Reporting Program pursuant to Section 60640, shall seek to achieve proficiency in mathematics and reading and writing in English as demonstrated by results on other assessments of college-level readiness.
(4)
Complete and file a free application for federal student aid and submit his or her grade point average to the Student Aid Commission by March 2 of his or her senior year.
(5)
Meet application and other requirements for university admission or enroll directly in community college within 12 months after high school graduation.
(b)
School districts that choose to participate in the voluntary Early Commitment to College program shall provide information and services, through existing programs to pupils, not exclusive of those who sign the pledge, through their middle school and high school years. These services shall include all of the following:
(1)
At the time of enrollment, each pupil shall receive a certificate of participation in the Early Commitment to College program, with his or her name, and bearing the signature of the Superintendent and the superintendent of the school district.
(2)
Participating pupils also shall receive a booklet of college information providing more specific information about eligibility requirements, preparation steps, and other pertinent information.
(3)
Transcript review and academics assessment, leading to course planning for the pupil at the time of enrollment in the Early Commitment to College program and annual reporting to the pupil and his or her parent or guardian on how he or she is doing relative to state standards and other benchmarks.
(4)
Information about the Golden State Scholarshare College Savings Trust (Article 19 (commencing with Section 69980) of Chapter 2 of Part 42 of Division 5 of Title 3) at the time of enrollment.
(5)
A visit to at least one community college, including, but not necessarily limited to, exposure to career technical education and transfer programs, and, where geographically feasible, at least one four-year college in grade 9 or 10.
(6)
Information on college admissions tests in grade 11.
(7)
Information on college admission and community college enrollment steps in grade 12.
(8)
Information on the financial aid application process, including, but not limited to, the free application for federal student aid and grade point average verification, in grade 12.
(9)
Information communicating that a pupil who has signed the pledge and transfers out of a participating school district shall not receive the recognition set forth in subdivision (d) of Section 54712, unless he or she attends another school district that is participating in the program. The new school district may obtain the pupil’s record of participation in the program from the original school district or the pupil may request to sign the pledge again, including after grade 9, only if he or she provides documentation that he or she was enrolled in the program in his or her original school district.