Report Understanding the Effects of School Funding By Julien Lafortune May 18, 2022 Funding for California’s K–12 public schools has reached record highs, but gaps in student outcomes remain. Understanding the benefits of additional funds, and how to distribute those funds, are key concerns for policymakers. This report offers insights from a robust body of research on the extent to which higher spending improves outcomes.
blog post Native American Students May Gain Better Access to UC with New Aid Program By Kevin Cook, Laura Hill May 18, 2022 Set to begin in fall 2022, a recently announced UC tuition assistance program could encourage more Native American students in California to enroll, which might improve representation at the university.
blog post Concerned about Costs, Most Californians Support Universal Preschool By Dean Bonner May 11, 2022 An overwhelming majority of Californians say that the affordability of preschool is at least somewhat of a problem. A similar share says the state should fund voluntary preschool programs for all four-year-olds, though views vary across party lines.
blog post Most Parents Hope Their Kids Will Go to College, but Costs Are a Concern By Deja Thomas May 10, 2022 Overwhelming majorities of California parents want their children to get a college degree, but many parents worry about costs. Among households with lower incomes and lower educational attainment, the shares saying they are “very worried” have increased in the past year.
Report Setting the Stage for Universal Preschool By Laura Hill, Emmanuel Prunty May 9, 2022 As the state expands its Transitional Kindergarten program, one key issue is whether access will be equitable. While the current program serves many Dual Language Learners and Latino children, some other student groups appear underenrolled. Ensuring that all elementary schools and districts offer the program is critical to improve access going forward.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: Setting the Stage for Universal Preschool By Laura Hill, Emmanuel Prunty, Vicki Hsieh May 9, 2022 Ensuring equitable access to Transitional Kindergarten is key as California expands the program to include all four-year-olds.
blog post High Prices Causing Financial Hardships for Many Californians By Rachel Lawler Mar 29, 2022 Around one in three Californians report experiencing serious financial hardship due to rising consumer prices, while one in four residents say they are very concerned about paying their rent or mortgage.
Report Equitable State Funding for School Facilities By Julien Lafortune, Niu Gao Mar 14, 2022 Most funding for California’s K–12 facilities comes from local tax revenues, which depend on property wealth. State funding could potentially address wealth disparities, but it has disproportionately benefited more-affluent districts. Policymakers should prioritize equity in facility funding so that all students have access to safe and effective learning environments.
blog post Who Stands to Gain from Changes in School Enrollment Funding? By Julien Lafortune, Joseph Herrera Jan 31, 2022 The state legislature is considering a change in how California K–12 schools are funded. Examining how attendance varies across districts—and how this relates to student demographics—sheds light on which districts might see the largest funding increases.
blog post College Admissions in an Era of Uncertainty By Niu Gao, Hans Johnson Jan 5, 2022 The University of California and the California State University have altered admissions policies to address some of the academic effects of the pandemic and to increase equity in access. What does the early evidence say about the impact of these changes?