Report From Blueprint to Reality: San Diego’s Education Reforms By Julian Betts, Andrew C. Zau, Kevin King Oct 5, 2005 During the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 school years, the San Diego Unified School District introduced a focused set of reforms to improve San Diego students’ reading and literacy skills called the Blueprint for Student Success. The changes the district implemented included new teaching materials, double- and even triple-length English classes where necessary, additional teacher training, and more classroom time for reading practice and instruction. This report presents the first student-level evaluation of that effort and shows that the Blueprint reforms in large part accomplished what they set out to do: reading scores at elementary and middle-school level improved among students who participated in Blueprint activities, and achievement gaps among different racial and ethnic, language, and socioeconomic groups narrowed.
blog post Commentary: California Must Prioritize Science Education to Stay Competitive By Niu Gao, Kathy DiRanna Sep 13, 2022 The pandemic derailed science education in California, stalling the state’s progress in implementing new science standards. California’s continuing recovery from COVID is an opportunity to reprioritize science education.
At Issue, Report Parcel Taxes for Education in California By Eric McGhee, Margaret Weston Sep 16, 2013 The state legislature is considering a lower passage threshold for the parcel tax, which is one of only a few local revenue-raising options for California school districts. A lower threshold would increase the passage rate, but would it encourage a greater number of districts to put parcel taxes on the ballot? This report contextualizes the proposal and assesses its potential impact on school funding. This research was supported with funding from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.
blog post Video: Californians and Education By Vicki Hsieh May 7, 2021 PPIC’s Rachel Lawler and Mark Baldassare discuss new survey findings about Californians’ views on student learning during the pandemic, Governor Newsom’s handling of K–12 education, and other topics.
blog post Video: Californians’ Views of K–12 Education By Linda Strean Apr 26, 2016 Most Californians say state funding for their local public schools is inadequate, and most favor ballot proposals likely to increase it, according to PPIC’s 12th annual survey on Californians and education.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Education By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek, Jui Shrestha Apr 27, 2011 Some findings of the current survey: Most Californians are very concerned that the state’s budget deficit will mean significant cuts to K–12 education. Six in ten adults and likely voters favor Governor Brown’s plan of spending cuts and temporary tax increases to close the deficit and avoid cuts to schools. More than half of public school parents say they have noticed reduced numbers of support staff or fewer programs at their child’s school. Job Approval Ratings: Governor Brown [PDF]California State Legislature [PDF] Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings: Governor Brown [XLS]California State Legislature [XLS] This survey was supported with funding from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
blog post Funding Special Education By Linda Strean Dec 6, 2016 A well-attended Sacramento event focused on the way the special education finance system works now in California and on PPIC’s recommendations to change it.
Fact Sheet Financing California’s Public Schools By Julien Lafortune Nov 29, 2023 K–12 funding has been at record-high levels in recent years, and California’s per student spending is now slightly above the national average. Spending is higher for low-income students, English Learners, and foster youth. However, enrollment declines, rising costs, and the expiration of pandemic funding pose fiscal challenges for school districts.
blog post Video: Higher Education & Our Economic Future By Linda Strean Oct 16, 2015 Gavin Newsom, California’s lieutenant governor, says the state needs a plan, with measurable goals, to transform its higher education system for a world that has radically changed
blog post Public School Parents See Education Differently By David Kordus May 27, 2016 The parents of public school children are more likely than other adults to have favorable opinions about public education in California.
