blog post California Sees Steep Decline in Financial Aid Applications By Kevin Cook Mar 12, 2021 Far fewer California high school seniors completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) this year, reducing the number who may receive funding that helps provide access to higher education.
blog post Dual Admission Could Help More Students Transfer from Community College to State Universities By Hans Johnson Feb 19, 2021 Under a proposed dual admission program, students who enroll in a California community college would be conditionally accepted to a state university. This could expand access to a bachelor’s degree and help address equity gaps in higher education.
blog post Most California Colleges Are Sticking with Online Instruction This Spring By Cesar Alesi Perez, Hans Johnson Feb 12, 2021 California colleges are more likely than those in the rest of the US to be operating primarily online. Public health data support the state’s cautious approach, but a reliance on distance learning raises equity concerns.
blog post Helping Community Colleges Build on Progress during the Pandemic By Hans Johnson Feb 4, 2021 As higher education continues to confront the disruptions from COVID-19, Governor Newsom’s proposed state budget includes funding to help California community colleges boost access and retention and improve student outcomes.
blog post Newsom’s Budget Advances Long-Overdue Education Data System By Jacob Jackson Jan 29, 2021 The governor’s proposed state budget includes $18.8 million in funds to move forward with a “cradle to career” data system that would provide valuable information for educators, policymakers, students, and parents.
blog post Budgeting for Agricultural Sustainability and Resiliency By Lori Pottinger Jan 27, 2021 We talked to Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, about agricultural programs designed to build climate resilience and support farmers’ financial resilience and water security.
blog post Commentary: An Equitable Recovery for California Requires Two Key Strategies By Sarah Bohn, Dean Bonner, Vicki Hsieh Jan 25, 2021 The current economic downturn has had an outsized impact on low-wage workers, communities of color, and women, and threatens to widen inequality. The right short- and long-term policies could help those most affected while broadening economic opportunity.
blog post Looking Ahead to California’s 2021 Labor Market By Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune Jan 22, 2021 With a surge in COVID-19 cases in recent months, employment in California has taken a hit. Given the continued challenges posed by the pandemic, what can we expect from the state’s labor market this year?
blog post Election Takeaways: California Voters Send Conflicting Signals By Mark Baldassare Dec 14, 2020 Nearly 18 million Californians voted in the November 2020 election—an all-time high. PPIC’s Mark Baldassare discusses the final election results and what they say about Californians’ mindset and policy preferences in a year of unprecedented challenges.
blog post Supporting Financially Stressed College Students during COVID-19 By Kevin Cook Oct 29, 2020 With California college students facing educational and financial disruptions due to the pandemic, policymakers and campus officials are seeking ways to help students meet basic needs.
