Pelosi, Speier, Eshoo Condemn Continued ACCJC Failure of Leadership in CCSF Matter

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

San Francisco – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Congresswoman Jackie Speier and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo released the following statement in response to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior College's (ACCJC) continuing refusal to acknowledge the ability to extend City College of San Francisco (CCSF) a good-cause extension of accreditation, even after an official statement from the U.S. Department of Education confirmed the ACCJC's legal flexibility to do so. Today, ACCJC sent a letter to Leader Pelosi rejecting the statement by the Department of Education, and announcing the commission does not believe it can grant CCSF any extension.

"It is outrageous that the ACCJC continues with its incorrect interpretation of Department of Education policy, even in the face of a clear, unambiguous statement from the Department that clearly confirms that the ACCJC has the legal flexibility to offer a good-cause extension.

"As the Department stated, ‘...ACCJC has the authority to reconsider or rescind its termination decision so as to provide the institution with additional time to come into compliance within the two year time frame, if such time has not run out, or to provide an extension for good cause.' Yet the ACCJC believes that it knows the Department of Education's regulations better than the Department of Education itself – and refuses to provide City College the good cause extension it has earned.

"ACCJC's faulty reliance on outdated analysis of the health of City College, and its pursuit of an unworkable policy that ends state and federal funding to CCSF and puts the students and faculty in academic limbo is professionally crippling and destructive. The commission's letter raises serious questions about its ability to properly execute the law and make informed decisions based in ensuring high-quality institutions of learning that benefit our students, our community and our state. Should this failure of leadership persist, new leadership is needed at ACCJC. The Department of Education should also consider whether to recertify ACCJC as an accrediting body."

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