event Implementing Common Core Apr 16, 2014 About the Program California adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in 2010, and CCSS–based testing will begin in 2014–15. How are school districts—and the state—adjusting to the new standards and assessments? PPIC researcher Paul Warren will provide an overview of his new report, and a panel of education experts will discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by these new standards. This research is supported with funding from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund.
blog post Video: Surplus and Shortage—California’s Water Balancing Act By Sarah Bardeen Nov 28, 2022 After three years of virtual events, our annual fall conference returned to an in-person format in Sacramento on Friday, November 18. The upshot? Good people, good food, and three vital panel discussions about managing water in California’s changing climate. Read our recap!
blog post The Road Ahead for Superintendent Torlakson By Patrick Murphy Nov 10, 2014 Leading up to election day, commentators routinely described the state superintendent position as "powerless” or even "obscure.” But the superintendent could play a major part in deciding how significant policies roll out.
blog post Assessment and Placement at Community Colleges By Olga Rodriguez May 12, 2016 Little is known about how incoming community college students are assessed and placed into math and English courses—decisions that have major implications.
blog post Video: A Conversation with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy By Vicki Hsieh Sep 1, 2020 House Minority Leader McCarthy joins PPIC’s Mark Baldassare to discuss the federal government’s role in addressing the health and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges.
event Achievement Gaps and Graduation Requirements in California’s Schools Apr 28, 2016 About the Program This event highlights two new reports on K–12 education. Achievement Gaps California has adopted new K–12 policies designed to close achievement gaps between socioeconomic and demographic groups. What can we learn from the first year of new standardized tests about how high-need students are faring? PPIC researcher Laura Hill will talk about a new report on school- and district-level results for English Learner and low-income students. This research was supported with funding from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. Graduation Requirements College preparatory coursework is now a graduation requirement in many of California’s large urban school districts—including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Oakland. Julian Betts, a PPIC adjunct fellow and a professor of economics at the University of California, San Diego, will outline a new report that examines the benefits and potential pitfalls of this reform.
blog post Video: Californians and Education By Vicki Hsieh May 7, 2021 PPIC’s Rachel Lawler and Mark Baldassare discuss new survey findings about Californians’ views on student learning during the pandemic, Governor Newsom’s handling of K–12 education, and other topics.