blog post Most California Colleges Are Sticking with Online Instruction This Spring By Cesar Alesi Perez, Hans Johnson Feb 12, 2021 California colleges are more likely than those in the rest of the US to be operating primarily online. Public health data support the state’s cautious approach, but a reliance on distance learning raises equity concerns.
Report Are California’s Schools Ready for Online Testing and Learning? By Niu Gao Apr 6, 2015 In addition to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), California is implementing a new, online assessment system: the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). Field tests were conducted last spring and the system is being rolled out this year, amid concerns about whether schools are technologically prepared. Using survey data from the California Educational Technology Professionals Association (CETPA), this report examines school districts’ technology infrastructure and assesses their readiness for online testing. Three findings emerge. First, school districts express confidence in the quantity and quality of their hardware and network capabilities but remain concerned about software and training of instructional and IT staff. Second, there is sizable variation in readiness across districts, linked mainly to student enrollment and district expenditure levels. Third, a clear majority of the state’s onetime CCSS Implementation Fund is going into non-technology spending such as instructional materials and teacher training. Regardless of their current readiness, districts will need targeted and ongoing support to upgrade and maintain their technology infrastructure. In the longer term, virtually all schools will need to upgrade their technology infrastructure in order to adopt and benefit from digital learning.
blog post Delivering on the Promise of Online Education By Hans Johnson Mar 20, 2015 PPIC senior fellow Hans Johnson was asked to answer this question: How will technology—from massive open online courses and web-based textbooks to big data collection—change universities? Here is his response.
event Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government Sep 15, 2022 PPIC’s latest survey examines Californians’ preferences in the upcoming gubernatorial and congressional elections, as well as their opinions on the economy, homelessness, and crime. It also gauges support for state propositions to uphold abortion rights, reduce greenhouse gases, and allow online sports gambling. PPIC survey analyst Rachel Lawler will present findings and discuss key takeaways with associate survey director Dean Bonner.
blog post Online Courses and Achievement Gaps By Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia May 23, 2014 Online learning offers the promise of expanded access to and success in higher education. To truly fulfill that promise, it must do so across the diverse population of California students.
blog post Video: Online Testing and Learning in California Schools By Linda Strean Apr 17, 2015 Are schools prepared to administer the new online tests? PPIC researcher Niu Gao answered the question with findings from a new PPIC study.
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.
