Assemblyman Scott Wilk, COC Chancellor Dianne G. Van Hook

Sacramento – Senator Scott Wilk, R-Antelope Valley, announces the introduction of Senate Bill 1009 (SB 1009), a measure to expand community college tutoring to include degree-applicable coursework in addition to basic skills. SB 1009 also streamlines the process for seeking tutoring by eliminating the requirement for a faculty member referral before receiving services.

“Research has shown tutoring can make a dramatic difference in a student’s ability to succeed,” said Wilk. “Giving students the needed tools to finish their coursework and prepare them for their next step, whether it is a four year university or the job market, makes sense.”

College of the Canyons brought the need for SB 1009 to Senator Wilk’s attention. According to data from the College, students without any tutoring have a 70 percent success rate in a class. But for students receiving tutoring, those numbers climb: 78 percent with 1-9 hours of assistance, 80 percent with 10-19 hours, and an impressive 82 percent with 20+ hours of assistance.

Currently, colleges receive funding for tutoring in basic skills courses, such as remedial English or math, but not for other courses needed to transfer to a four-year institution.

“When a student first realizes he or she is struggling, that is the time to seek help. Under current law students are required to wait until referred by a faculty member or, even worse, until practically failing the class before they can get help. Community college course tutoring should be promoted and readily available to our students,” said Wilk. “It is in the state’s best interest to provide our students every tool necessary to ensure our college graduates are prepared to compete in an increasingly competitive global economy.”