Subscribe
Donate
Donate

Making It Count: California’s Duty to Fund Community Colleges

Download Equity Alert

Publication Date

March 18, 2026

Topics

  • Higher education
  • State funding for education

Share

Overview

California’s community colleges open doors to mobility for millions—but chronic underfunding continues to limit student success. With the end of hold harmless, the Student Centered Funding Formula (SCFF) will finally operate as intended in 2025–26, making this a pivotal moment for equity. Our new Equity Alert explains what’s changing and what California must do next.

Key Takeaways

  • Community colleges remain significantly underfunded despite serving the state’s most diverse learners.
  • The SCFF is designed to direct resources based on student needs and outcomes—not just enrollment.
  • The expiration of hold harmless creates the first real accountability moment since SCFF was adopted.
  • Policymakers must evaluate whether the formula is reducing inequities.
Download Equity Alert

Call to Action

California must ensure its community college funding model truly supports the students who rely on it most.

Join us in calling for a full evaluation of the SCFF and stronger accountability for equitable student success. Contact Denise Luna, Director of Higher Education Policy, for more information.

Latest Resources

A group of five college students sitting together on the grass outdoors, smiling and looking at a laptop screen. They appear to be students collaborating or studying, with notebooks and backpacks nearby, in a sunny, relaxed campus-like setting.
  • Regional Reports

Building What We Deserve: EdTrust-West’s Vision for Education Equity in Los Angeles County

At EdTrust-West, we believe every student in LA County deserves access to high-quality, equitable education that prepares them for college, career, and a future of their choosing. In this pivotal moment, we call on education leaders to take bold action—and we stand ready to partner with communities to make this vision a reality.

EdTrust-West | September 3, 2025

Read More
  • Higher Ed
  • Dual Enrollment

Dual Enrollment Practitioner Guides

Dual enrollment is gaining momentum in California as a key strategy for advancing education equity. To help ensure access for Black, Latinx, and Native American students, EdTrust-West and Career Ladders Project created three Practitioner Guides focused on coordination, recruitment, and counseling.

EdTrust-West | September 28, 2025

Read More