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Higher Education in California: Increasing Equity and Diversity

By Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Olga Rodriguez

A solid majority of California’s future college-age population will come from demographic groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education—including Latinos, African Americans, and those who are low income or the first in their families to go to college.

Report

Career Pathways and Economic Mobility at California’s Community Colleges

By Sarah Bohn, Jacob Jackson, Shannon McConville

Career education credentials from California’s community colleges can help students advance in the labor market. But some programs offer larger economic returns than others, and it can take a long time for students to see increased earnings. Improving student outcomes—while also responding to future workforce needs—is a challenging but critical task facing the state.

Report

English as a Second Language in California’s Community Colleges

By Olga Rodriguez, Sarah Bohn, Laura Hill, Bonnie Brooks

English language proficiency can facilitate social and economic mobility for non-native speakers—and California’s community colleges are key providers of ESL education. Now that a new law is motivating colleges across the state to reexamine their ESL programs, we need a better understanding of ESL students and the policies that help them succeed.

Report

Higher Education as a Driver of Economic Mobility

By Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Sarah Bohn

Higher education is key in helping Californians move up the income ladder—but equity gaps are a big challenge. Among young adults born in California, 60% of Asian Americans and 40% of whites have at least a bachelor’s degree, compared to 21% of African Americans and 18% of Latinos.

Report

Modernizing California’s Education Data System

By Jacob Jackson, Kevin Cook

Unlike most other states, California lacks a data system that can follow students from K–12 schools to college and into the workforce. Linking data across sectors would help policymakers and educational leaders promote student success and institutional effectiveness.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Higher Education

By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Lunna Lopes, Alyssa Dykman

Key findings: Most Californians think public higher education should be a high priority for the next governor; many are ready for a change in policies. A majority see affordability as a big problem and are concerned about students at public colleges and universities taking on too much debt.More than half say the level of state funding for higher education is inadequate; many think a state spending guarantee for the California State University and University of California systems is a good idea.

Report

Stackable Credentials in Career Education at California Community Colleges

By Sarah Bohn, Shannon McConville

California is investing in career education programs at its community colleges. Stackable credentials are a key component—students who “stack” multiple, related awards can build skills and increase earnings over time. We need to know more about how well-designed stackable credential programs help students succeed.

Report

Remedial Education Reforms at California’s Community Colleges: Early Evidence on Placement and Curricular Reforms

By Olga Rodriguez, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Hans Johnson

California’s community colleges are in the midst of a major transformation of developmental education. Several colleges have been experimenting with placement and curricular reforms for some time. An examination of the efforts of these early implementers can shed light on the potential impact of system-wide reforms on student outcomes.

Report

Reforming English Pathways at California’s Community Colleges

By Hans Johnson, Olga Rodriguez, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Bonnie Brooks

California’s community colleges are in the midst of numerous reforms to improve developmental (also known as remedial or basic skills) education. Developmental education is supposed to help prepare students for college work, but it has long been an obstacle to student success: most students in developmental courses never go on to complete a college-level course in English or math.

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