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Community College Students Falling Behind, Study Finds

A new report finds California community college students who are behind in reading and math are not getting the help they need to move forward academically. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.

Community College Students Falling Behind, Study Finds

A new report finds California community college students who are behind in reading and math are not getting the help they need to move forward academically. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.

The report was put together by the state's Legislative Analyst's Office . It found students who are academically behind when they enter a community college will most likely stay behind.

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The report's author Paul Steenhausen says that's because students are not getting tested early or often enough. He says there's also not enough guidance counselors.

Steenhausen: Right now there is a law that restricts the amount of money that community colleges can use from their operating budget to hire counselor. And so we found they were really not permitted to go out and hire additional counselors even though they need to do so.

Steenhausen recommends the state change policies like that to support students. He also says the state needs to develop a standardized test for community college students. 

Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.