blog post Computer Science in California’s K–12 Schools By Niu Gao Oct 26, 2016 The effort to expand computer science education in K–12 schools entails a number of challenges and opportunities.
blog post Testimony: How an Integrated Data System Could Improve Education By Jacob Jackson Apr 11, 2018 California needs a statewide integrated longitudinal data system to help evaluate and improve its education system.
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.
blog post California Sees Steep Decline in Financial Aid Applications By Kevin Cook Mar 12, 2021 Far fewer California high school seniors completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) this year, reducing the number who may receive funding that helps provide access to higher education.
California Counts, Report Who’s Lagging Now? Gender Differences in Secondary Course Enrollments By Anne Danenberg Feb 1, 2001 Examines enrollment rate differences between boys and girls by subject area in California's middle schools and high schools, and sets these differences against a background of labor market outcomes for men and women. Also investigates female-male enrollment disparities according to school setting (urban, suburban, and rural) as well as racial and ethnic status.
blog post The High School Exit Exam: What’s Next? By Paul Warren Sep 24, 2014 The California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) is likely to be a topic of discussion in the next legislative session. The question is whether to update it so that it aligns better with Common Core, find an alternative measure, or eliminate the requirement altogether.
blog post Investing in Schools to Address COVID-19’s Toll on Youth Mental Health By Shalini Mustala, Paulette Cha Dec 5, 2022 The pandemic had a devastating effect on the mental health of children and adolescents. Recent state investments to support schools’ efforts in early detection and intervention promise to play a critical role in countering this crisis.
Explainer Is College Worth It? By Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Cesar Alesi Perez, Vicki Hsieh, Hans Johnson Mar 8, 2023 Rising college costs and a reluctance to take on debt lead many students and families to wonder if college will actually yield a brighter future with higher earnings and better jobs. In this explainer, we explore whether the benefits of a college degree outweigh the costs.
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.
blog post Does Transfer Reduce Regional Enrollment Gaps at CSU and UC? By Cesar Alesi Perez May 14, 2024 California students from regions with larger Latino and Black populations and regions with lower incomes are underrepresented among first-time freshmen at the state's public universities. Transfers from community colleges appear to help offset this disparity at CSU but not at UC.
