blog post How Have California School Districts Used the Emergency Connectivity Fund? By Joseph Hayes, Niu Gao Dec 4, 2023 The state's school districts have received about $859 million from the federal Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), which supports access to internet connectivity and digital devices. Most of these funds have gone to districts with large proportions of Black, Latino, or low-income students, and the ECF dollars have been used more for connectivity than for devices.
Fact Sheet College Readiness in California By Iwunze Ugo, Laura Hill Dec 4, 2023 More Californians are graduating from high school, but many graduates are underprepared for higher education and there are racial/ethnic and income disparities. Closing these gaps will require sustained efforts across the state's K–12 system.
Fact Sheet College Access in California By Iwunze Ugo Dec 4, 2023 About three in five Californians enroll in college right after high school. But whether—and where—high school graduates attend college varies across regions and demographic groups.
blog post Commentary: On California Funding Formula’s 10th Anniversary, Celebrate Progress but Double Down on Fairness By Julien Lafortune, Bruce Fuller Dec 1, 2023 Enacted in 2013, the Local Control Funding Formula shifted state K–12 dollars to increase support for districts serving greater shares of low-income students and English Learners. We look at advances in student performance under this funding approach—and where further work is needed.
blog post Most Californians Say Racial Bias Is Linked to Economic Inequality By Lauren Mora Nov 30, 2023 A strong majority of Californians say that racial and ethnic discrimination contributes to economic inequality, and those holding this view are more likely to support policies that help lower-income families.
Fact Sheet Financing California’s Public Schools By Julien Lafortune Nov 29, 2023 K–12 funding has been at record-high levels in recent years, and California’s per student spending is now slightly above the national average. Spending is higher for low-income students, English Learners, and foster youth. However, enrollment declines, rising costs, and the expiration of pandemic funding pose fiscal challenges for school districts.
Report Understanding the Reach of the California Earned Income Tax Credit By Tess Thorman Nov 13, 2023 State-designed and -funded tax credits for low-income families are a small but growing part of California’s anti-poverty portfolio. As policymakers explore ways to refine, increase, and supplement the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), they could benefit from knowing more about where and when the CalEITC and similar credits are claimed.
blog post Video: Tracking Progress in Community College Access and Success By Vicki Hsieh Nov 8, 2023 Four years ago, state lawmakers dramatically broadened access to key transfer-level courses at California’s community colleges. PPIC researcher Cesar Alesi Perez presents findings from a new report on what these reforms have meant for improving student outcomes.
blog post Testimony: Improving College Access and Success through Dual Enrollment By Olga Rodriguez Nov 6, 2023 At a hearing of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, PPIC Higher Education Center director and senior fellow Olga Rodriguez discusses the state landscape for dual enrollment—by which high school students take college courses and earn college credit—and how this approach can help improve student outcomes.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: Tracking Progress in Community College Access and Success By Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Cesar Alesi Perez, Sidronio Jacobo, Fernando Garcia ... Oct 30, 2023 We examine how student outcomes have changed in the years following Assembly Bill 705, which broadened access to transfer-level math and English courses at California’s community colleges.
