blog post Video: Strengthening Pathways to Health Careers By Linda Strean Dec 12, 2016 Career technology programs in health provide promising career paths, and completion rates are high. But there is room for improvement.
Report Career Technical Education in Health: An Overview of Student Success at California’s Community Colleges By Shannon McConville, Sarah Bohn, Landon Gibson Dec 1, 2016 Health programs at California’s community colleges attract a large and diverse set of students and are linked to growing job opportunities in a generally well-paying industry for Californians with less than a bachelor’s degree. Many community college students who have earned career tech credentials in health care over the past decade have seen sizeable wage gains. Efforts to increase completion rates and close achievement gaps can expand access to health careers while helping the state meet its workforce needs. This research was supported with funding from the Sutton Family Fund.
event Health Career Pathways at California’s Community Colleges Dec 1, 2016 About the ProgramState policymakers looking to improve economic mobility and meet workforce needs have renewed their focus on career technical (or vocational) education. Health careers are of particular interest because many health jobs pay well and colleges already offer a wide range of programs and credentials. PPIC researcher Shannon McConville will outline findings from two new reports, and a panel of experts will talk about the role of the state’s community colleges in providing health training pathways and economic opportunities to a diverse group of Californians. This research was supported with funding from the ECMC Foundation and the Sutton Family Fund. Please register in advance. There is no charge to attend, but space is limited. Lunch will be provided.
Report Health Training Pathways at California’s Community Colleges By Shannon McConville, Sarah Bohn, Landon Gibson Dec 1, 2016 State and federal policymakers looking to improve economic mobility and meet workforce needs have renewed their focus on career technical education. Health training is of particular interest—California’s community colleges offer a range of health programs and credentials and demand is growing for health workers with some college training. Students who earn shorter-term health credentials tend to see relatively low wage gains, and relatively few return to school to pursue higher-level training. Targeted outreach and support could help more students move along pathways to higher earnings. This research was supported with funding from the ECMC Foundation and the Sutton Family Fund.
press release Career Tech Credentials in Health at Community Colleges Yield Sizeable Gains Nov 30, 2016
blog post Community Colleges and Career Technical Education By Shannon McConville, Sarah Bohn Mar 30, 2016 It is crucial to understand the ability of California’s community colleges to effectively train a diverse health-care workforce for the jobs of the future.
blog post Expanding Education, Reducing Recidivism By Mia Bird, Amy Lerman Aug 19, 2015 A federal pilot program to allow access to Pell Grants to those incarcerated in prisons could not only expand access to higher education, but it could also improve public safety and reduce correctional costs.
Report Higher Education in California: Performance Budgeting By Hans Johnson, Patrick Murphy, Margaret Weston, Kevin Cook Nov 12, 2014 As California begins to reinvest in public higher education after several years of budget cuts, it could opt to tie funding more closely with outcomes—for example, the number of students educated or degrees awarded. This approach, known as performance-based funding, has the potential to incentivize investment by the state’s higher education systems in areas that further state priorities. Drawing on California’s minimal experience with performance-based funding and the approaches other states have pursued, this report raises four important questions for the state to consider if it wants to link funding for higher education with outcomes without compromising on either quality or equity.
Report California’s Need for Skilled Workers By Sarah Bohn Sep 17, 2014 If recent trends continue, California is likely to face a shortage of workers with some college education but less than a bachelor’s degree by 2025. State and federal policymakers have increased their focus on boosting educational opportunities for this segment of the workforce. This report examines labor market outcomes among workers with some college training to shed light on the types of jobs that hold the most promise for future workers and the state economy.
