Report Does Raising High School Graduation Requirements Improve Student Outcomes? By Niu Gao Feb 23, 2021 The shift to distance learning during the COVID-19 crisis exacerbated inequities in California’s K–12 system, adding urgency to an ongoing discussion about the role of high school graduation policy in improving student outcomes. This report shows that more-rigorous graduation requirements can have a positive and equitable impact on college readiness.
Report College Prep for All: Will San Diego Students Meet Challenging New Graduation Requirements? By Julian Betts, Andrew C. Zau, Karen Bachofer, Sam M. Young Apr 27, 2016 Several of California’s major urban school districts have adopted ambitious new high school graduation requirements, making college preparatory coursework mandatory. This analysis—which focuses on San Diego—finds that the new requirements are likely to help many students but may damage the prospects of others. San Diego and other districts can take steps to help lower-achieving students meet the new graduation goals.
Fact Sheet California’s High School Graduation Requirements By Niu Gao, Lunna Lopes, Grace Lee Nov 27, 2017
event Achievement Gaps and Graduation Requirements in California’s Schools Apr 28, 2016 About the Program This event highlights two new reports on K–12 education. Achievement Gaps California has adopted new K–12 policies designed to close achievement gaps between socioeconomic and demographic groups. What can we learn from the first year of new standardized tests about how high-need students are faring? PPIC researcher Laura Hill will talk about a new report on school- and district-level results for English Learner and low-income students. This research was supported with funding from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. Graduation Requirements College preparatory coursework is now a graduation requirement in many of California’s large urban school districts—including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Oakland. Julian Betts, a PPIC adjunct fellow and a professor of economics at the University of California, San Diego, will outline a new report that examines the benefits and potential pitfalls of this reform.
Report College Readiness as a Graduation Requirement: An Assessment of San Diego’s Challenges By Julian Betts, Andrew C. Zau, Karen Bachofer Apr 24, 2013 Four large California school districts—Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Oakland—recently adopted ambitious new graduation standards designed to increase college readiness. Evidence from San Diego indicates a need for major interventions to help students succeed under the new policies. In conjunction with this report, the authors developed the a–g On Track Model, which can help districts identify middle-school students who will have difficulty completing the new requirements. This research was supported with funding from the Donald Bren Foundation.
blog post High School Graduation during the COVID-19 Crisis By Niu Gao, Joseph Hayes Apr 16, 2020 School closures and the move to distance learning present challenges in ensuring that California students, especially those from low-income families or with special educational needs, stay on track for graduating.
blog post Prioritizing Computer Science in California Schools By Niu Gao, Courtney Lee Mar 6, 2018 The fastest-growing, highest-paying jobs in the US require computer science knowledge, but California is falling behind in preparing students with these skills.
blog post Upgrading High School Math Requirements By Niu Gao Feb 13, 2017 California has not updated its math graduation requirements for 30 years and now lags behind other states in ensuring students’ success.
