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Pelosi: U.S. Department of Education Letter Proves Accreditors Can Grant CCSF Good-Cause Extension

May 20, 2014

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Today, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released a letter from the U.S. Department of Education that proves the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC) is able to offer a good-cause extension to City College of San Francisco (CCSF).

The Department of Education's official position is clear: "The ACCJC has the authority to reconsider or rescind its termination decision so as to provide the institution with additional time to come into compliance … or to provide an extension for good cause."

"City College is an indispensable part of San Francisco – one of our most important ladders of opportunity," said Leader Pelosi. "The education CCSF provides has enabled thousands of San Franciscans young and old to invest in themselves and build a better future for themselves and their families."

"This letter from the Department of Education responding to my inquiry proves that the ACCJC retains the flexibility to grant CCSF an extension for good cause, despite their previous claims to the contrary," Leader Pelosi continued. "For the ACCJC to refuse to allow good-cause extension – even after this clarification from the Department of Education, even after all the monumental progress City College has made along its Roadmap to Success – would be destructive, irresponsible, and could be viewed as a political act. For the livelihood of the students, the community, and the state, the ACCJC must send in a new evaluation team with a fresh set of eyes and allow a good cause extension of accreditation."

The letter responds to Leader Pelosi's earlier written inquiries on the veracity of public statements from the ACCJC leaders, stating in an op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle that, "While some plead that City College simply be given more time to mend, this is not up to the commission… [as] Congress and the U.S. Department of Education require an accrediting body to allow a substandard college no more than two years to come into compliance or lose accreditation."

CCSF has already met significant milestones in operational, governance and educational standards progress under its Roadmap to Success, including:

  • Completing nearly 85% of the 350 objectives laid out in the Roadmap to Success;
  • Hiring a permanent, accomplished Chancellor, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Counsel, Chief Instructional Officer, and other key leadership positions;
  • Finalizing collective bargaining agreements with all of its unions;
  • Stabilizing the financial management structures including tighter internal controls and more effective financial planning; and,
  • Updating nearly every facet of student learning outcomes and needs.

California's recent "Student Success Score Card" for community colleges throughout the state shows that CCSF has a higher percentage of City College students transferred to a four-year university or earned a vocational certificate within five years than the statewide average.

The letter responding to Leader Pelosi's inquiries is available here.

The letter from Leader Pelosi to the Department of Education is available here.

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Issues:Education