Laws boost students’ future options

A couple of new laws taking effect today aim to give students a better chance of getting into the California State University and University of California systems right out of high school.

Assembly Bill 428, introduced by Assemblywoman Wilmer Carter (D-Rialto), requires the state’s high schools to notify parents whether their child has satisfied the enrollment requirements for CSU and UC schools.

State universities have strict academic requirements to enroll, and most parents and students are not aware of what they are, according to the legislation.

The point of this bill along with Senate Bill 405, sponsored by Sen. Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), is to educate students and families on what classes and kinds of grades they need to enroll in public universities.

Also taking effect in 2008 is Senate Bill 490, written by Sen. Elaine Alquist (D-San Jose). The law phases out foods with trans-fat in school cafeterias and vending machines by mid-2009.

Assemblyman Pedro Nava’s (D-Santa Barbara) Assembly Bill 347 will give students who fail to pass the California High School Exit Exam an additional two years of assistance from their school districts to pass the exam.

Teaching in small groups, counseling and more assessments will all be available for students looking to pass the test required to graduate.

Another law written by Nava will extend school zones for vehicles and permit counties and cities to reduce the speed limit from 25 mph to 15 mph near schools.

State Sen. Jeff Denham’s (R-Salinas) Senate Bill 170 extends the law allowing inter-district transfers to 2012. The law allows students to attend schools near where their parents work, not necessarily the school district they live in.

More than three dozen bills affecting education became law this year.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.