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Report

Implementing the Next Generation Science Standards: Early Evidence from California

By Niu Gao, Lunna Lopes, Grace Lee, Sara Adan

The California State Board of Education (SBE) adopted the California Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) to transform science teaching and learning in K–12 schools in 2013. The new standards emphasize “three-dimensional learning”: disciplinary core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and science and engineering practices.

Report

Envisioning Futures for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, William Fleenor, Jeffrey Mount ...

California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is widely perceived to be in crisis today: its levee system is fragile, many of its native species are declining rapidly, and it lacks strong governing institutions to deal with its problems. In its current state, the Delta is unsustainable for almost all stakeholders. This report provides a comprehensive, scientifically up-to-date analysis and outlines several alternative management strategies for the Delta. To view individual chapters, click on the links below.

Summary
Introduction
The Legacies of Delta History
Drivers of Change Within the Delta
The Future of the Delta as an Aquatic Ecosystem
A Crisis of Confidence: Shifting Stakeholder Perspectives on the Delta
Water Supply Adaptations to Changes in Delta Management
Delta Options and Alternatives
Evaluating Delta Alternatives
Financing and Governing a Soft Landing
Conclusions and Recommendations
Maps (full-color)

Report

California’s Missing Voters: Who Is Not Voting and Why

By Eric McGhee

Despite an uptick in voter registration and turnout for last year’s election, California’s long-term trends in voter participation are disappointing. Mobilizing key groups—especially Latinos, Asian Americans, and young people—will be crucial to ensure future civic engagement in the state.

Fact Sheet

California’s Digital Divide

By Joseph Hayes, Eric Assan, Niu Gao

Digital access is at an all-time high in California—and major investments by state and federal governments have helped narrow the digital divide. But racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic disparities persist.

Report

Advancing Ecosystem Restoration with Smarter Permitting

By Letitia Grenier, Stephanie Panlasigui, Crissy Pickett, Gokce Sencan

California’s ecosystems are vital to the state’s economy and wellbeing, yet they’re in dire health. Large-scale restoration is needed, and implementing smarter permitting can help.

Report

Student Debt and the Value of a College Degree

By Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, David Ezekiel, Betsey Zeiger

Student debt in California has increased dramatically in recent years, but college is still a good investment. Californians with college degrees are more likely to be employed than those with high school diplomas, and they earn higher wages. Policymakers can do a lot to help make higher education more affordable—for example, by developing tuition savings programs and improving pathways from community colleges to four-year schools. Providing additional funding is essential, but finding ways keep costs down should also be pursued.

This research was supported with funding from the Donald Bren Foundation.

Report

Pretrial Detention and Jail Capacity in California

By Sonya Tafoya

California’s persistently overcrowded jails are facing additional challenges now that public safety realignment has shifted many lower-level offenders from state prisons to county supervision. Jail capacity challenges are prompting a reconsideration of California’s heavy reliance on holding unsentenced defendants in jail pending trial—known as pretrial detention. The legal rationale for pretrial detention is to ensure court appearances and preserve public safety. But California’s high rates of pretrial detention have not been associated with lower rates of failure to appear or lower levels of felony rearrests. This report concludes that pretrial services programs—if properly implemented and embraced by the courts, probation, and the jails—could address jail overcrowding and improve the efficiency, equitability, and transparency of pretrial release decision making.

Report

Transitions for the Delta Economy

By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Richard Howitt, Josué Medellín-Azuara

Enormous changes—from natural forces to management decisions—are coming to California’s fragile Delta region and will have broad effects on its residents. This report finds that in the first half of this century, the Delta as a whole is likely to experience a loss of 1 percent of economic activity as a result of these changes. It also identifies planning priorities for managing the Delta’s future.

This research was supported with funding from the Watershed Sciences Center at UC Davis.

Report

California’s Water Market, By the Numbers, Update 2012

By Ellen Hanak, Elizabeth Stryjewski

This report provides a check-up on California’s progress with two innovative water management tools: water marketing and groundwater banking. These tools are part of a modern approach that will enable California to manage its scarce water resources more flexibly and sustainably.

This research was supported with funding from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.

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