Section 54711.

(a) (1) Participation by pupils and school districts in the Early Commitment to College program is voluntary. A school district that chooses to participate in the program is encouraged to do so districtwide, with all schools in the district participating, and shall provide schoolwide college information and college preparation events inclusive of pupils who sign the "Save Me a Spot in College" pledge. An elementary school district may distribute the general letter as set forth in subdivision (f) of Section 54712, but if the elementary school district chooses to participate in the program, it shall do so in collaboration with the high school district in which the predominant number of its pupils attend.

(2) Participation by colleges and universities in the Early Commitment to College program is voluntary.

(3) For purposes of this article, all of the following apply:

(A) "College Opportunity Zone" means the 30 percent of public schools that maintain any of grades 6 to 9, inclusive, with the highest proportion of low-income pupils.

(B) "Low-income pupil" means a pupil who is eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

(4) Schools designated as a College Opportunity Zone in a participating school district shall give all pupils enrolled in grades 6 to 9, inclusive, and their parents and guardians, the opportunity to sign a "Save Me a Spot in College" pledge.

(5) Schools not designated as a College Opportunity Zone, in a participating school district, shall give a pupil who is eligible for free and reduced-price meals and is enrolled in grades 6 to 9, inclusive, and his or her parent or guardian the opportunity to sign a "Save Me a Spot in College" pledge.

(b) A participating school district shall certify that a pupil has completed the "Save Me a Spot in College" pledge pursuant to Section 54713, and shall track pupils enrolled in the Early Commitment to College program by recording and reporting participation and outcome data as directed by the Superintendent.

(c) Any school that has pupils who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals in the National School Lunch Program is encouraged to participate in the Early Commitment to College program.

(d) A pupil scheduled to graduate from high school after 2017 shall not be allowed to enroll in the program.

(Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 472, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2009. Repealed as of January 1, 2019, pursuant to Section 54716.)