blog post Immigrants and Health Insurance By Shannon McConville Nov 18, 2015 California has seen large declines in the uninsured rate among noncitizens—a group that includes an estimated 2.6 million people who legally reside in the state, as well as 2.7 million undocumented immigrants.
Report Low-Income Students and School Meal Programs in California By Caroline Danielson Mar 12, 2015 School nutrition programs help improve nutrition among vulnerable children. In so doing, they help build a better future for these children and the state. Now that California is implementing the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), there is additional reason to make sure all students who are eligible for free or low-cost meals enroll in these programs. Along with English Learners and foster youth, low-income students—in other words, students who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals—are targeted for additional funds under the LCFF. This renewed focus on enrollment could also prompt further consideration of participation in school nutrition programs. This report looks at factors that might be linked to variations in student enrollment and participation in free or reduced-price meals. Not surprisingly, we find that districts with higher poverty rates identify higher levels of eligibility than wealthier districts. Low-income high school students appear to be enrolled at levels comparable to younger students, but students in elementary school districts are much more likely to participate in lunch programs than students in other types of districts. We also find that schools in districts with higher shares of foreign-born residents have modestly lower participation levels (but not identification of low-income students). Finally, we find evidence that schools with smaller enrollments are more successful than larger schools at identifying and serving low-income students. One way to further the goal of full enrollment among low-income students is to cut the large share of low-income students who must submit applications for free or reduced-price meals. Achieving this objective is arguably an important part of a larger state effort to integrate social safety net programs and services.
blog post Undocumented Immigrants and Health Care By Shannon McConville Dec 17, 2014 President Obama’s recent immigration order may result in access to insurance coverage and health care for undocumented immigrants in California.
press release Most Want More Higher Education Funding—But Oppose Raising Student Fees or Taxes Dec 1, 2014
blog post Health Care Reform in California: An Update By Laurel Beck Nov 14, 2014 Beginning tomorrow, many Californians will be able to enroll in or switch health insurance plans through the state’s insurance exchange.
blog post Californians’ Views of Health Care Reform Shift—a Bit By Dean Bonner Oct 17, 2014 The Affordable Care Act has divided the state as well as the nation. Have those views shifted? Yes and no.
blog post Expanding Health Insurance—to Jail Inmates By David Lesher Jun 20, 2014 At a recent event, PPIC researchers Mia Bird and Shannon McConville discussed how the federal Affordable Care Act provides an opportunity to help to lower costs and improve health conditions in local jails.
blog post May Survey Looks at Views on Budget, Drought By David Lesher May 28, 2014 Research associate Dean Bonner presented the May PPIC Statewide Survey at a lunch briefing in Sacramento last week.
blog post Health Care Reform: Leaders Discuss Next Steps By David Lesher May 20, 2014 At a PPIC event in Sacramento, a panel of experts credited health care reform for successfully expanding coverage to more than three million people in California, but they said the overhaul of the health system will take years to achieve.
