Student Enrollment and Success in Transfer-Level English and Math - Analysis of AB 705 Impact in the California Community Colleges (CCC) through 2023-2024 - February 2025

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai

Analysis of student enrollment and success outcomes in California community colleges following Assembly Bill (AB) 705 implementation, covering cohorts from fall 2015 to fall 2023 and extending through 2023-2024. The report shows near-universal direct enrollment in transfer-level English by fall 2021 and in transfer-level math by fall 2023, with most equity gaps nearly closing. It also examines one-year throughput for transfer-level English and math, identifying gains, plateauing completion rates, and persistent lower throughput for DSPS students and foster youth.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages32

Reading Time1 h 21 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

Introduction

In This Report

Enrollment Highlights

Throughput Highlights

Conclusion

References

Appendix A. Methodology

Appendix B. Additional Tables

Student Enrollment and Success in Transfer-Level English and Math: Analysis of AB 705 Impact in the California Community Colleges (CCC) through 2023-2024 FEBRUARY 2025 Table of Contents Table of Contents ........................................................................................................ 2 Executive Summary .....................................................................................................3 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 3 Enrollment Highlights ................................................................................................................ 3 Throughput Highlights ............................................................................................................... 4 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 4 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 6 In This Report ............................................................................................................................. 6 Key Findings ................................................................................................................ 7 Enrollment .................................................................................................................................. 7 Throughput............................................................................................................................... 13 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 21 References ................................................................................................................ 24 Appendix A. Methodology........................................................................................... 25 Appendix B. Additional Tables .................................................................................... 27 The Research and Planning Group for California Community Colleges.......................... 32 Authors ..................................................................................................................................... 32 MMAP Team .............................................................................................................................. 32 Executive Summary Introduction California community colleges have been implementing the requirements of Assembly Bill (AB) 705 (Irwin 2017) since fall 2019. AB 705 focuses on maximizing students’ timely completion of transferlevel English and math–a key milestone known to support student attainment of associate’s degrees and transfer. This updated statewide analysis of related student outcomes in the period leading up to and since the launch of AB 705 conducted by The RP Group’s Multiple Measures Assessment Project (MMAP) offers insight into how this historic legislation is affecting longstanding equity gaps in students’ enrollment and success in these English and math courses. Enrollment Highlights Nearly all students now start in transfer-level English and math. MMAP analyzed direct enrollments in transfer-level English and math for student cohorts starting at any of the 115 California Community Colleges in the fall term between 2015 and 2023. Direct enrollment in transfer-level English was nearly universal by fall 2021, while direct enrollment in transfer-level math was nearly universal as of fall 2023. These data indicate that the legislation created a tipping point, generating not just widespread access to but also enrollment in these courses. Equity gaps in transfer-level course enrollments have almost closed. All racial/ethnic groups saw significant gains in direct e

FAQs

What is AB 705 and what outcome does it target in community colleges?

AB 705 is designed to maximize students’ timely completion of transfer-level English and math, a milestone linked to earning associate’s degrees and transferring.

How did transfer-level English and math enrollment change after AB 705?

Direct enrollment in transfer-level English became nearly universal by fall 2021, and direct enrollment in transfer-level math became nearly universal by fall 2023 across most groups.

What does the report use to measure “throughput,” and what trends are observed?

Throughput is the share of students who enroll in an English or math course in the fall term and complete a transfer-level English or math course within one year. English throughput rose substantially, then plateaued, while math throughput improved more gradually and equity gaps persisted.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai