event Implementing Common Core Apr 16, 2014 About the Program California adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in 2010, and CCSS–based testing will begin in 2014–15. How are school districts—and the state—adjusting to the new standards and assessments? PPIC researcher Paul Warren will provide an overview of his new report, and a panel of education experts will discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by these new standards. This research is supported with funding from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund.
Report Implementing the Common Core State Standards in California By Patrick Murphy, Paul Warren Apr 16, 2014 The Common Core State Standards (CCSS)—adopted in 2010—are similar to California’s current K–12 standards, but their emphasis on conceptual understanding and problem solving will require changes in classroom instruction. California’s transition to the CCSS has gotten off to a slow start. Survey data suggest that many teachers will deliver the new standards for the first time in 2014–15—the first year of CCSS-based testing. Like other states, California will probably see a drop in test scores under the new standards. But as the transition continues beyond 2014–15, the hope is that the new standards and tests will create incentives that lead to higher student achievement.
Report California’s Transition to the Common Core State Standards: The State’s Role in Local Capacity Building By Patrick Murphy, Paul Warren Apr 15, 2014 The Common Core State Standards are changing California classrooms. They are also altering the state’s role in K–12 education. This report compares California’s implementation strategy to those of other key states and outlines new ways for the California Department of Education to help districts improve student outcomes. This research is supported with funding from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund.
blog post Moving English Learners to English Fluency By Laura Hill, Margaret Weston Apr 9, 2014 School districts across the state have different standards for reclassifying English learners as fluent English speakers. This means that students with the same skills may be reclassified in one district, but not in another.
blog post No-Stakes Testing By Patrick Murphy Mar 12, 2014 March 18, California’s schools will pilot a new type of standardized test for students in grades three through eight and grade eleven.
Report California’s Changing K-12 Accountability Program By Paul Warren Jan 17, 2013 California recently joined a number of other states in adopting the Common Core State Standards, which establish new criteria for what students should learn in school. It also joined a consortium of states to develop new tests based on those standards. The new standards are ambitious, and some teachers are concerned they are not prepared to convey the higher-level skills and concepts they contain. The new tests will allow the state to measure gains in each student’s achievement, creating new options for how the state ranks schools. The change will also prompt the state to reassess the value of state tests in high school and its options for holding secondary schools accountable. More changes to the state’s accountability program are likely when Congress reauthorizes the federal education law, and the way the state addresses these current issues will influence the shape of its future accountability program.
Report School Finance By Margaret Weston Nov 14, 2012 There is broad consensus that California's school finance system is inequitable, inadequate, and overly complex. In response to these critiques, this year Governor Jerry Brown proposed an overhaul of our school finance system. Also, two initiatives on the November ballot asked voters to increase education funding through tax increases: voters approved Proposition 30, which was integral to the governor's budget plan, and rejected Proposition 38, a citizens' initiative. Despite the passage of Proposition 30, California faces many school finance challenges. This report provides an overview of the state's school finance system and outlines some longstanding school finance issues that may be in play next year.
Report California’s English Learner Students By Laura Hill Sep 6, 2012 English Learner (EL) students in California’s schools are numerous and diverse, and they lag behind their native-English-speaking peers. Closing the achievement gap for EL students has been a long-standing goal for California educators, and there are some signs of success. Now that EL funding and curriculum issues are receiving a fresh level of scrutiny from decisionmakers in Sacramento, it is important to assess our understanding of this diverse group, highlight the opportunities to improve policies around demonstrating mastery of English, calibrate funding formulas involving EL students, and implement new curriculum standards thoughtfully.
