Report Common Core State Standards in California: Evaluating Local Implementation and Student Outcomes By Niu Gao, Julien Lafortune Sep 25, 2019 California adopted the Common Core State Standards to prepare K–12 students for college and careers—and to narrow longstanding achievement gaps. Most districts have implemented the standards, and student outcomes have improved modestly. But progress has been uneven. State tracking and support could help districts implement the standards successfully.
blog post Proposed Changes in Admission Requirements at CSU By Courtney Lee Aug 2, 2019 California State University is considering changing its three-year high school math requirement to a quantitative reasoning requirement of four years that broadens the list of eligible courses.
blog post Exploring Math Pathways under Common Core By Niu Gao May 6, 2019 Common Core State Standards allow school districts to follow a traditional or integrated math pathway, and there are significant differences in how this choice varies across districts.
Report Coordinating California’s Higher Education System By Paul Warren Mar 6, 2019 Establishing an independent council to provide leadership, expertise, and coordination across sectors of higher education would help California better meet student and workforce needs. This brief report outlines key considerations for building a successful council.
blog post More Students Than Ever Ready for UC and CSU By Jacob Jackson, Hans Johnson Feb 5, 2019 More students than ever in California are graduating from high school having completed college prep coursework, but can UC and CSU accommodate them?
Report K–12 Reforms and California’s English Learner Achievement Gap By Laura Hill May 30, 2018 English Learner (EL) students have been a key part of California’s K–12 system for decades. They currently make up about 21 percent of the public school population. English Learner status is meant to be temporary, and indeed, reclassified English Learners (those who are deemed English proficient) are among the best-performing students in the state. But students who remain ELs for longer periods generally have poor outcomes.
blog post New Admission Requirements at the University of California? By Niu Gao, Hans Johnson May 21, 2018 The University of California is considering increasing minimum science requirements for admission, a move that will challenge California high schools to prepare students for the changes.
blog post Video: Keeping Students on Track for College By Linda Strean Dec 4, 2017 Only about 30% of California 9th graders are expected to earn a bachelor’s degree—a startling statistic in a state that faces a shortfall of college graduates. PPIC researchers and a panel of experts discuss the challenges and solutions for improving college pathways.
blog post California Needs More College Prep Courses By Niu Gao Nov 30, 2017 To improve student readiness for college, districts and schools need to increase the number of college prep courses.
Fact Sheet California’s High School Graduation Requirements By Niu Gao, Lunna Lopes, Grace Lee Nov 27, 2017
