California lawmaker calls for shutdown after $175 million online college graduates 12 students

A California lawmaker is calling for an exclusively online community college to close after only 12 of its 900 students graduated in its first year of operation, according to a state audit.

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In addition to the low graduation rate, more than 40% of Calbright College students dropped out, Auditor Elaine Howle reported in her findings Tuesday to the California Legislature, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Calbright, which opened in 2019, paid its executives more than any other community college in the state. The school is expected to receive $175 million in taxpayer funding through 2025. The audit said there was “poor management” by former school leaders, many of whom are already gone. However, the school has not addressed excessive salaries or created a spending strategy.

Assemblyman Jose Medina asked for the audit at the request of community college faculty leaders. Medina called the school a failure.

“The Legislature must end the Calbright College experiment,” Medina said in a statement.

Medina and Assemblyman Evan Low have introduced a bill that would close the school after the 2022-23 academic year.

Pamela Haynes, Calbright board of trustees president, admitted to early missteps but said changes have been made. The Legislature gave the school seven years to start up, she said.

“We acknowledge that Calbright made early missteps, and that necessary changes have been made to course-correct and implement rigorous internal controls where needed,” Haynes said in a statement. “We appreciate the recommendations for continued improvement and we are fully committed to, and confident in, Calbright’s ability to accomplish these along the given timeline.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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