blog post Without Testing, Challenges for School Districts Add Up By Laura Hill May 11, 2020 The lack of statewide K–12 standardized tests this spring will pose significant difficulties for teachers and districts when schools ultimately reopen.
blog post Video: Fiscal Challenges of Declining Enrollment in California Schools By Mary Severance Mar 5, 2020 PPIC researcher Paul Warren outlines a new report on projected declines in K–12 enrollment over the next decade, and a panel of experts offers state and local perspectives.
blog post Making Progress on Connecting Student Data across California By Jacob Jackson Jan 28, 2020 A broad range of stakeholders, including PPIC, are working to create a system for linking data across the state’s public education institutions.
Report What Happens When Colleges Broaden Access to Transfer-Level Courses? Evidence from California’s Community Colleges By Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Olga Rodriguez, Hans Johnson Oct 7, 2019 California community colleges that have significantly expanded access to transfer-level courses—important steps toward degrees and transfers to four-year schools—have seen increased student success, particularly in English. Prompted by a new law (AB 705), placement and curricular reforms are now being enacted system-wide; it will be important to monitor their impact.
event School Resources and the Local Control Funding Formula Aug 8, 2019 The Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) was enacted in 2013–14 to simplify California’s school finance system, revamp district and school accountability, and provide additional funding for high-need students. How has the LCFF affected educational resources across districts and schools? PPIC research fellow Julien Lafortune will outline the findings of a new report and a panel of experts will discuss the challenges and opportunities of targeting LCFF funding and improving educational outcomes for the state’s highest-need students.
Report School Resources and the Local Control Funding Formula: Is Increased Spending Reaching High-Need Students? By Julien Lafortune Aug 7, 2019 Six years after state policymakers enacted a new funding formula for California’s public schools, significant additional resources are going to high-need districts. However, allocating resources specifically to high-need students remains a challenge.
Report Achievement in California’s Public Schools: What Do Test Scores Tell Us? By Paul Warren, Julien Lafortune Jul 10, 2019 California’s student test scores show significant progress in English—but they also show stalled gains in math and persistent income achievement gaps. State actions to improve math instruction and support struggling districts could help boost student performance.
blog post Widening the Conversation about Safe Drinking Water in the San Joaquin Valley By Lori Pottinger Mar 18, 2019 The San Joaquin Valley is a hot spot for unsafe drinking water. We talked to Veronica Garibay about ways to ensure community involvement in water management decision making.
Report Coordinating California’s Higher Education System By Paul Warren Mar 6, 2019 Establishing an independent council to provide leadership, expertise, and coordination across sectors of higher education would help California better meet student and workforce needs. This brief report outlines key considerations for building a successful council.
