blog post Mapping Equitable Access to Math at California’s Community Colleges By Olga Rodriguez, Bonnie Brooks, Vicki Hsieh May 11, 2021 The state’s community colleges have made tremendous progress in expanding access to transfer-level math courses, but overall gains mask important variation across campuses.
press release Landmark Reform Boosted Community College Students’ Success and Helped Narrow—but Did Not Erase—Racial Disparities Nov 18, 2020
press release Broadening Access to Transfer-Level Courses Dramatically Increases Success for Community College Students Oct 7, 2019
Report English as a Second Language at California’s Community Colleges By Olga Rodriguez, Laura Hill, Daniel Payares-Montoya Nov 28, 2022 Colleges began implementing reforms aimed at improving English as a Second Language pathways in fall 2021—during a historic pandemic. We cannot yet disentangle the impact of reforms from the effects of the COVID-19 crisis, but an analysis of early implementation finds that colleges have made significant progress.
Report Community College English in California’s New Era of Student Access By Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Olga Rodriguez, Hans Johnson, Cesar Alesi Perez Aug 15, 2022 Major assessment and placement reforms at the state's community colleges have all but eliminated remedial prerequisites. As a result, students are much more likely to complete college composition—the “gateway” transfer-level English course. However, more work is needed to address persistent racial equity gaps and pandemic challenges.
blog post Video: A New Era of Student Access at California’s Community Colleges By Vicki Hsieh Nov 24, 2020 An expert panel discusses new PPIC research showing that broader access to transfer-level courses at community colleges increased student success and narrowed racial equity gaps.
blog post Video: Broadening Access to Transfer-Level Courses at California’s Community Colleges By Lynette Ubois Oct 16, 2019 At an event in Sacramento, researcher Marisol Cuellar Mejia and an expert panel discuss a new PPIC report on how large-scale placement and curricular reforms at community colleges are increasing student success.
blog post Equity Gaps Narrow in Community College Courses, but More Work to Do By Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Olga Rodriguez, Hans Johnson May 27, 2021 Major reforms to placement and remediation for California community college students has significantly broadened access to transfer-level English and math courses. But racial equity gaps persist.
blog post Video: English as a Second Language at California’s Community Colleges By Mary Severance Dec 7, 2022 In fall 2021, California community colleges began putting in place major reforms to English as a Second Language pathways. PPIC’s Daniel Payares-Montoya, Olga Rodriguez, and Laura Hill discuss new research on early implementation efforts, including the impact of the pandemic.
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.
