Policy Brief Policy Brief: English as a Second Language at California’s Community Colleges By Olga Rodriguez, Laura Hill, Daniel Payares-Montoya, Mary Severance Nov 28, 2022 The community college system is implementing reforms to English as a Second Language pathways aimed at improving student outcomes. Given the link between English proficiency and access to high-wage jobs—and the large number of English Learners at community colleges—these reforms represent a unique opportunity to increase economic mobility.
blog post A Tight Labor Market: Challenges for Business, Opportunities for Workers? By Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Vicki Hsieh, Julien Lafortune Nov 21, 2022 Last week’s jobs report indicated strong job growth and continued low unemployment in California. Under the right conditions, this could spell greater economic returns to both workers and businesses.
blog post Steep Declines in Child Poverty Have Been Driven by Safety Net Programs By Caroline Danielson Oct 26, 2022 During the first two years of the pandemic, government interventions not only avoided an increase in poverty overall but also dramatically reduced poverty among children, according to the California Poverty Measure.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: The Effects of COVID-19 on Transfer-Intending Students in California’s Community Colleges By Cesar Alesi Perez, Jacob Jackson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Olga Rodriguez ... Oct 19, 2022 After COVID-19 hit in spring 2020, enrollment fell among transfer-intending students at community colleges. Fewer students persisted through subsequent terms and fewer completed courses; however, more students reached critical transfer milestones than among pre-pandemic cohorts—a likely upshot of recent reforms.
Report The Effects of COVID-19 on Transfer-Intending Students in California’s Community Colleges By Cesar Alesi Perez, Jacob Jackson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Olga Rodriguez ... Oct 19, 2022 The pandemic disrupted enrollment, persistence, and course success for many transfer-intending students at California community colleges, especially those from vulnerable and underrepresented groups. Yet critical pre-pandemic reforms as well as actions taken by colleges and faculty may have helped limit the pandemic’s impact for some who stayed enrolled.
blog post Video: The Importance of CalFresh in Unstable Times By Mary Severance Sep 30, 2022 PPIC’s Tess Thorman and Caroline Danielson discuss recent research on CalFresh enrollment before and during the pandemic, participants’ ties to the workforce, and the program’s role in stabilizing family budgets.
event The Importance of CalFresh in Unstable Times Sep 23, 2022 CalFresh is one of California’s largest safety net programs, providing food assistance to 4.8 million residents. As policymakers consider ways to strengthen the link between safety net participation and economic mobility, a better understanding of the job and income instability that participants face is critical. PPIC’s Tess Thorman and Caroline Danielson will discuss CalFresh enrollment before and during the COVID crisis, participants’ ties to the workforce, and the program’s role in stabilizing family budgets.
blog post Fewer California Adults and Far Fewer Children Are in Poverty in 2021 By Caroline Danielson, Patricia Malagon Sep 22, 2022 New census data show that poverty in California declined among both adults and children last year. While economic downturns typically cause poverty to rise, pandemic relief measures drove a continued decline, especially among children.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: The Role of CalFresh in Stabilizing Family Incomes By Caroline Danielson, Tess Thorman, Vicki Hsieh Sep 21, 2022 As policymakers consider ways to strengthen the connections between safety net participation and economic mobility, a better understanding of the job and income instability CalFresh participants face is critical.
blog post Inflation Is Undercutting Pandemic-Era Increases in Food Assistance By Tess Thorman, Eliana Blachman Aug 18, 2022 Rising food prices have substantially eroded the value of recent increases to CalFresh benefits. Participants should see some relief in October, when benefit levels are adjusted for inflation.
