California Approves Statewide Online Community College

California legislators have approved a budget bill to create a statewide online community college in 2019.

The college will be funded with $100 million from the state’s budget, and an additional $20 million annually.

Current state governor Jerry Brown was behind the proposed plan which is aimed at people in the workforce who are looking to add to their skill sets. California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley is backing the governor, saying that the new college will focus on offering certificate courses to Californians who do not have a college degree.

According to CNN, the overall mission for this plan is to provide workers with the skills needed for high demand jobs. Based on the Public Policy Institute of California many incoming jobs in the state will require technical education beyond high school, but not degree holding.

With over two million people in the workforce without a college degree, California legislators want to provide a new and affordable way for workers to advance their careers.

The courses offered in this online program will be different from those already offered at community colleges on-site and also take less time to complete.

Democratic lawmakers have expressed concern with the funding levels in Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan. The governor has until June 30 to negotiate with the legislature for the final state budget.