blog post New Laws Address Water Affordability and Wildfire Risks By Henry McCann, Gokce Sencan Nov 16, 2020 The pandemic and recession forced tough decisions in Sacramento this year. Despite challenging circumstances, several high-priority bills covering safe drinking water and wildfire risk reduction were enacted.
blog post Remote Learning for English Learners and Special Needs Students during COVID-19 By Niu Gao, Laura Hill Apr 10, 2020 As districts across California roll out distance learning plans, educators must develop alternate methods to effectively serve English Learners and students with special needs.
blog post Food Security in a Time of COVID-19 Insecurity: How the Virus Affects Farming By Lori Pottinger Mar 30, 2020 How will COVID-19 affect California agriculture—key to food supplies locally and nationally? We talked to farmer Cannon Michael about the pandemic’s impact on farmers and farmworkers.
blog post Video: Broadening Access to Transfer-Level Courses at California’s Community Colleges By Lynette Ubois Oct 16, 2019 At an event in Sacramento, researcher Marisol Cuellar Mejia and an expert panel discuss a new PPIC report on how large-scale placement and curricular reforms at community colleges are increasing student success.
Fact Sheet Racial Disparities in California Arrests By Magnus Lofstrom, Justin Goss, Joseph Hayes, Brandon Martin Oct 14, 2019 Racial disparities in arrests have narrowed—but they are still prevalent across the state. Disparities tend to be larger in more affluent and less diverse counties.
Report What Happens When Colleges Broaden Access to Transfer-Level Courses? Evidence from California’s Community Colleges By Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Olga Rodriguez, Hans Johnson Oct 7, 2019 California community colleges that have significantly expanded access to transfer-level courses—important steps toward degrees and transfers to four-year schools—have seen increased student success, particularly in English. Prompted by a new law (AB 705), placement and curricular reforms are now being enacted system-wide; it will be important to monitor their impact.
Report Common Core State Standards in California: Evaluating Local Implementation and Student Outcomes By Niu Gao, Julien Lafortune Sep 25, 2019 California adopted the Common Core State Standards to prepare K–12 students for college and careers—and to narrow longstanding achievement gaps. Most districts have implemented the standards, and student outcomes have improved modestly. But progress has been uneven. State tracking and support could help districts implement the standards successfully.
blog post Two California Leaders Join PPIC Board of Directors By Mark Baldassare Sep 12, 2019 PPIC welcomes Karen Skelton and Helen Iris Torres as the newest members of its board.
Fact Sheet Dams in California By Alvar Escriva-Bou, Jeffrey Mount, Jelena Jezdimirovic Sep 4, 2019 Dams are central to California’s water system, providing storage, flood control, electricity, and recreation. Climate change is complicating how they are managed.
Fact Sheet Californians and the Coast By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Alyssa Dykman, Rachel Lawler Aug 5, 2019 Most Californians see coastal conditions as very important to the state’s future. Majorities are concerned about ocean conditions and wildlife habitats, and two in three oppose drilling off the coast.
