In an attempt to stem the growth in student loan defaults. Congress last year put into place more stringent requirements regarding the ability to benefit test that is applied to applicants for Federal financial assistance. Unfortunately. these controls had the unintended effect of limiting the educational opportunity for lowincome and immigrant students. The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 changed the law to require that all students who attend schools that receive Federal financial assistance. either through grants or student loans. obtain a high school diploma. take a high school equivalency examination. or take a federallydetermined entrance test before they could begin their postsecondary education. The California Community Colleges operate on an open admissions policy. and as a result. were particularly hard hit by this requirement. The basic tenet of the California Community College System Is to provide open access and opportunities for those In greatest need of developmental and vocational education. The vocational and technical education programs these community colleges provide to all students are particularly critical to underrepresented and immigrant students who may not have had the benefit of a high school education or who may be reluctant to apply to a postsecondary program when faced with the prospect of an entrance examination. I am pleased to see the language in H.R. 1285 begins to address this problem by tying the Federal admissions exam only to those students seeking Federal financial assistance. rather than tying this requirement to the schools admission process. While H.R. 1285 does not entirely solve the problem faced by students enrolling or planning to enroll In a community college in California. it does take a first step to ensuring equal access to education for these students.
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