State Audit Highlights Calbright College’s Potential

Calbright College, California’s first statewide online community college, got off to a bumpy start but deserves the opportunity to fulfill its immense potential. A recent state audit report highlighted missteps in Calbright’s first two years. But with four years to go under its initial mandate and all new leadership, led by CEO Ajita Talwalker Menon, it’s too early to throw in the towel. That’s why the Bay Area Council, which was an early and strong supporter of Calbright, is opposing legislation (AB 1432) that seeks to shut it down by the end of the 2022-23 school year.

Despite the early problems, the audit found “Calbright’s pathways are not duplicative when compared to the other programs we reviewed,” underscoring the value it can provide to working adults and job seekers in California who may be unable to participate in traditional community college programming due to their job and family responsibilities. The self-paced model offered by Calbright provides working adults an opportunity to upskill and retrain on their own time and schedule. The Council is continuing to work with Calbright and the California community colleges in the Bay Area to improve and strengthen connections to major employers in our region. For more information or to get involved in the Workforce of the Future Committee, please contact Senior Policy Manager Henry Bartholomay.