event Spotlight on Rural California Mar 21, 2024 Rural California is vast—and varied. It faces unique challenges, from high poverty to sparse social services to a lingering digital divide. What are the most immediate challenges and how are leaders and stakeholders addressing them? Join PPIC for a conversation between James Gallagher, assembly Republican leader, and Tani Cantil-Sakauye, president and CEO of PPIC, followed by a panel discussion with state and local leaders.
Fact Sheet Rural California By Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia Mar 19, 2024 Rural California is home to 2.3 million residents—5.8% of the state’s population. And every county in the state—except San Francisco—has rural residents. This fact sheet provides essential information about key demographic, economic, and societal issues in California’s rural areas.
blog post Testimony: California’s K–12 Digital Divide Has Narrowed, but Access Gaps Persist By Niu Gao Feb 21, 2024 At an Assembly Education Committee hearing on addressing students’ post-pandemic needs, PPIC senior fellow Niu Gao discussed the role that federal, state, and local efforts have played in increasing digital connectivity and outlined key challenges that remain.
event California’s Economic Future Feb 14, 2024 California is a powerhouse of innovation and wealth-building—yet our state has the highest poverty rate in the nation. What policies can best support California’s economic leadership and also ensure that more of its residents benefit from the state’s success? Join Marketplace’s Kai Ryssdal and a panel of experts for a wide-ranging conversation on California’s economic future.
blog post How Have California School Districts Used the Emergency Connectivity Fund? By Joseph Hayes, Niu Gao Dec 4, 2023 The state's school districts have received about $859 million from the federal Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), which supports access to internet connectivity and digital devices. Most of these funds have gone to districts with large proportions of Black, Latino, or low-income students, and the ECF dollars have been used more for connectivity than for devices.
blog post Telehealth Usage among Low-income and Undocumented Californians By Shalini Mustala, Paulette Cha, Patricia Malagon Oct 17, 2023 A variety of changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic have expanded telehealth use among low-income and undocumented Californians. The experience of patients in Los Angeles County—home to the state's largest immigrant population and a significant share of its undocumented residents—sheds light on the prospects for telehealth to improve health care access for undocumented immigrants in our state.
blog post Did Pandemic Aid Narrow the Digital Divide? By Darriya Starr, Joseph Hayes, Niu Gao Sep 18, 2023 As part of a multifaceted package of pandemic assistance, the federal government in 2021 allocated nearly $7 billion to help schools and libraries expand access to digital devices and internet connectivity. We examine what this has meant for digital equity among California students.
Report Improving College Access and Success through Dual Enrollment By Olga Rodriguez, Daniel Payares-Montoya, Iwunze Ugo, Niu Gao Aug 21, 2023 At one time, mainly high-achieving high school students took college courses through dual enrollment; but access has widened under the College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) program. While CCAP students are benefiting from the program—they enroll in community college at high rates and reach key milestones—CCAP has room to improve.
blog post Video: Bridging California’s Digital Divide By Vicki Hsieh Jul 27, 2023 How can unprecedented public investments in broadband be leveraged to close the digital divide? PPIC convened a series of three expert panels to explore how California can ensure equity in internet access as well as in the use of digital connectivity.
event Bridging California’s Digital Divide Jul 18, 2023 The pandemic highlighted longstanding gaps in reliable internet access and spurred unprecedented investments in broadband. What are the barriers to digital access across California’s diverse communities? How can we leverage recent funding to overcome obstacles and ensure digital equity? Join us for a multi-day conference about these critical issues.
