Assemblyman Scott Wilk

Assemblyman Scott Wilk’s AB 542 to help California Community Colleges receive funding for physical education classes offered to Middle College School students passed out of the Senate Education Committee.

“AB 542 helps streamline operations at Academy of the Canyons. Since physical education is required as part of the high school curriculum, it is unfair that course fees are waived for every class except physical education courses,” said Wilk, R-Santa Clarita. “About a third of Academy of the Canyon students are first generation college students and 90 percent of the students complete one year or more of college while still in high school. AB 542 is a hand up, not a hand out.”

AB 542 will allow California Community Colleges to receive funding for providing Physical Education courses for Middle College High School students since they are responsible for completing the Physical Education requirement to meet state standards.

“At the June 5th College of the Canyons Commencement ceremonies, seventeen A.A. degree recipients were Academy of the Canyons students. The next day, they received their high school diplomas,” said Eric Harnish, Vice President of Public Information, Advocacy and External Relations at College of the Canyons.

Academy of the Canyons is a middle college high school in the William S. Hart Union High School District that is located on the campus of College of the Canyons and serves students 9th-12th grades in the Santa Clarita Valley. Students who attend Academy of the Canyons have the opportunity to earn between 24 and 44 transferable college units, while achieving their high school diplomas.

The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations committee.

The 38th Assembly District encompasses Simi Valley, the northwestern section of the San Fernando Valley and most of the Santa Clarita Valley.