Report Are California’s Schools Ready for Online Testing and Learning? By Niu Gao Apr 6, 2015 In addition to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), California is implementing a new, online assessment system: the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). Field tests were conducted last spring and the system is being rolled out this year, amid concerns about whether schools are technologically prepared. Using survey data from the California Educational Technology Professionals Association (CETPA), this report examines school districts’ technology infrastructure and assesses their readiness for online testing. Three findings emerge. First, school districts express confidence in the quantity and quality of their hardware and network capabilities but remain concerned about software and training of instructional and IT staff. Second, there is sizable variation in readiness across districts, linked mainly to student enrollment and district expenditure levels. Third, a clear majority of the state’s onetime CCSS Implementation Fund is going into non-technology spending such as instructional materials and teacher training. Regardless of their current readiness, districts will need targeted and ongoing support to upgrade and maintain their technology infrastructure. In the longer term, virtually all schools will need to upgrade their technology infrastructure in order to adopt and benefit from digital learning.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Special Survey on Education By Mark Baldassare Apr 27, 2006 Some findings of the current survey The share of Californians (58%) who say the quality of education is a big problem is higher now than at any time since 1998, when the PPIC Statewide Survey was launched. Substantial majorities of residents (64%) and likely voters (60%) favor raising the income tax paid by the wealthiest Californians to fund education. Eighty-seven percent of blacks are very concerned about high school drop-out rates, a much higher percentage than in any other group (Latinos 59%, Asians 51%, whites 50%). A majority of Californians (73%) believe that students should have to pass a statewide test to graduate from high school. This is the 66th PPIC Statewide Survey and the second in a series of special surveys focusing on education in California, made possible by a grant from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Report English Learner Trajectories and Reclassification By Julian Betts, Laura Hill, Karen Bachofer, Joseph Hayes ... Sep 23, 2019 Nearly 40% of California’s K–12 students are current or former English Learners, and California is now standardizing the policies that will define English proficiency across the state. Los Angeles and San Diego have taken two different, but largely effective, approaches.
Report Preparing for California’s Next Recession By Patrick Murphy, Jennifer Paluch, Radhika Mehlotra May 29, 2019 California is enjoying one of the longest growth periods in history and appears well-prepared to endure a mild economic downturn. But a more severe crisis would exhaust current reserves, decrease school funding, and open a significant budget gap for several years. What steps can the state be taking to prepare for and minimize these outcomes?
Report New Eligibility Rules for the University of California? The Effects of New Science Requirements By Niu Gao, Hans Johnson, Julien Lafortune, Anthony Dalton Nov 20, 2019 The UC system has proposed requiring three years of high school science, instead of two, to align with new K–12 standards. But this change could also reduce eligibility, especially for underrepresented students. Stakeholders can take several steps to help ensure the policy promotes equity.
Fact Sheet Public Preschools in California By Caroline Danielson, Tess Thorman Apr 22, 2019 Most parents of young children work, but public preschool programs are fragmented and currently unable to serve all who are eligible. Improvements will require a multipronged approach.
Report Academic Progress for English Learners: The Role of School Language Environment and Course Placement in Grades 6-12 By Laura Hill, Julian Betts, Megan Hopkins, Magaly Lavadenz ... Jan 23, 2019 English Learners in middle and high school come from a variety of backgrounds and face unique challenges. The school’s language environment and course placement practices are two factors that may affect their academic and linguistic progress.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Alyssa Dykman, Rachel Lawler Sep 30, 2019 Key findings from the current survey include: In the Democratic presidential primary race, Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden, and Bernie Sanders lead the rest of the field by a wide margin. Californians see homelessness and the economy as the state’s top issues. Most view immigrants as a benefit to the state; majorities oppose restricting abortion rights and access. A school construction bond slated for the March 2020 ballot has a slim margin of support; fewer than half of likely voters support a potential November 2020 measure that would create a “split roll” property tax and direct some of the revenue to schools.
Report Charter Schools and California’s Local Control Funding Formula By Iwunze Ugo, Laura Hill Sep 21, 2017 Over the two decades since their inception, charter schools have become a significant part of the California public school system. Quasi-independent, but publicly funded, these schools educate about 10 percent of the state’s students.
