Bill Allowing Free Transfer of College Students Gains

The state Senate Education Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to allow California community colleges students to cross district boundaries and enroll in the college of their choice.

The so-called “free-flow” policy was strongly opposed by the Los Angeles Community College District, which has contended that its nine colleges could be hurt by an outflow of students to suburban campuses.

Nevertheless, on a 7-0 vote, the education committee approved the bill, sponsored by Sen. Robert G. Beverly (D-Manhattan Beach), that says that students “shall be admitted to a community college without regard to district boundaries,” except in cases where a college has no “space available” for further enrollments.

The Senate committee’s action was in contrast with that of an Assembly subcommittee on higher education, which earlier this week decided to put off the issue for further study.

The controversy arose last fall when the Los Angeles college district decided to prohibit students from enrolling in suburban colleges because it was experiencing a sharp enrollment decline. Although the state law encouraged a free transfer of students, state officials noted that some local districts could “unilaterally” prohibit their own residents from enrolling outside their district.

Several colleges in the Los Angeles area agreed in November to restrict enrollments of new full-time students, but officials of El Camino and Glendale colleges sought a change in state law.