blog post How Did California Schools Assess Student Learning in Fall 2020? By Niu Gao, Laura Hill, Julien Lafortune Mar 10, 2021 K–12 school districts used a variety of tools this past fall to measure student learning, with assessments developed locally—by teachers or districts—being the most common.
Report A New Era of Student Access at California’s Community Colleges By Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Olga Rodriguez, Hans Johnson Nov 18, 2020 A landmark law (AB 705) has helped tens of thousands of community college students complete the courses necessary for transfer to a four-year college. But student outcomes vary across campuses, and more work is needed to ensure equitable access and completion rates—particularly in math.
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 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 COVID-19 Shutdown Forces Colleges to Ramp up Online Learning By Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Kevin Cook Mar 30, 2020 As higher education in California moves online, the state’s prior experience with distance learning points to effective practices, as well as certain challenges, in helping students succeed.
page COVID-19 Mar 1, 2020 The coronavirus outbreak poses a tremendous challenge to California, the nation, and the global community. PPIC’s analyses examine the impacts of COVID-19 and how policy choices and other actions can help address them.
blog post Video: College Eligibility for the University of California By Mary Severance Feb 14, 2020 PPIC’s Niu Gao discusses research on proposed changes to science requirements for UC eligibility, and an expert panel explores what they could mean for students and the university.
blog post Governor Newsom Proposes New Investments in Math and Science Teachers By Julien Lafortune, Radhika Mehlotra Jan 16, 2020 In the state budget proposal he released last week, the governor calls for new spending to address the teacher shortage in high-need subjects.
Report New Eligibility Rules for the University of California? The Effects of New Science Requirements By Niu Gao, Hans Johnson, Julien Lafortune, Anthony Dalton Nov 20, 2019 The UC system has proposed requiring three years of high school science, instead of two, to align with new K–12 standards. But this change could also reduce eligibility, especially for underrepresented students. Stakeholders can take several steps to help ensure the policy promotes equity.
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.
