Report How Did Pandemic Recovery Funding Support California Community Colleges? By Olga Rodriguez, Daniel Payares-Montoya, Kevin Cook May 8, 2024 How did California Community Colleges use billions of dollars in federal pandemic aid, and what were the outcomes? A new report explores how these investments contributed to positive student engagement and a successful transition to online classes. It also offers policy suggestions for sustained momentum forward.
blog post Taking Stock of California’s Capacity to House its Homeless Population By Cesar Alesi Perez May 1, 2024 By expanding the supply of permanent housing as well as emergency shelter beds, federal pandemic aid boosted the capacity of California's homeless housing programs. Yet despite this promising growth, these programs are not meeting an increased need.
Fact Sheet Income Inequality in California By Tess Thorman, Daniel Payares-Montoya Apr 17, 2024 California’s income gap narrowed in 2022, but the disparity between high and low incomes is wider in California than in most other states. Over the longer term, income inequality has been driven by earnings growth among college-educated workers.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Education By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Lauren Mora, Deja Thomas Apr 10, 2024 As the California Legislature considers placing a school facilities bond on the November 2024 ballot, around half of likely voters say they would vote yes on such a measure. About eight in ten public school parents see catching up academically or addressing the pandemic’s social-emotional impact as the biggest K–12 challenge.
blog post The Future of Fog By Sarah Bardeen Apr 1, 2024 Fog is central to life in California, but climate change is going to disrupt this quintessentially Californian weather experience. We asked Todd Dawson, a scientist who has long studied the relationship between fog and redwoods, to divine the future of fog for us.
blog post Why Have US and California Jobs Numbers Diverged? By Sarah Bohn, Jenny Duan, Marisol Cuellar Mejia Mar 28, 2024 Though unemployment statewide remains low by historical standards, California's recent job growth has been notably slower than growth in the nation as whole. A look at the state's major employment sectors helps explain why.
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 Revised Estimates Show Weaker 2023 Job Trends in California—but There Are Signs of Strength By Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune, Sarah Bohn Mar 15, 2024 Revised data show that California experienced weaker job growth in 2023 than originally estimated. However, January’s job report shows signs of an improving labor market, especially in sectors such as tech and administrative services that had struggled last year.
blog post Testimony: Most Californians Are “Pretty Happy” but a Growing Share Are “Not Too Happy” By Mark Baldassare Mar 12, 2024 Mark Baldassare, PPIC Statewide Survey director and Miller Chair in Public Policy, testified at a hearing of the Select Committee on Happiness and Public Policy Outcomes. He discussed Californians' overall happiness as well as their level of satisfaction with work, household finances, and other aspects of life.
