blog post Testimony: Getting to Graduation on Time at California State University By Jacob Jackson Nov 19, 2020 PPIC’s Jacob Jackson testified before the Select Committee on Student Success on increasing the share of CSU students who graduate in four years by encouraging them to take full course loads early in college.
Report A New Era of Student Access at California’s Community Colleges By Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Olga Rodriguez, Hans Johnson Nov 18, 2020 A landmark law (AB 705) has helped tens of thousands of community college students complete the courses necessary for transfer to a four-year college. But student outcomes vary across campuses, and more work is needed to ensure equitable access and completion rates—particularly in math.
press release Landmark Reform Boosted Community College Students’ Success and Helped Narrow—but Did Not Erase—Racial Disparities Nov 18, 2020
Report Increasing Community College Transfers: Progress and Barriers By Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia Sep 14, 2020 Community college transfers are an essential route for underrepresented groups to achieve a bachelor’s degree. This study shows that students who reach key early milestones are much more likely to succeed. Recent reforms have the potential to lead to large increases in student transfer and success.
Report What Happens When Colleges Broaden Access to Transfer-Level Courses? Evidence from California’s Community Colleges By Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Olga Rodriguez, Hans Johnson Oct 7, 2019 California community colleges that have significantly expanded access to transfer-level courses—important steps toward degrees and transfers to four-year schools—have seen increased student success, particularly in English. Prompted by a new law (AB 705), placement and curricular reforms are now being enacted system-wide; it will be important to monitor their impact.
blog post Reforming California’s Community College System By Hans Johnson, Olga Rodriguez, Marisol Cuellar Mejia May 31, 2019 Community colleges are implementing a number of reforms designed to help more students get a degree or a certificate or transfer to a four-year institution.
Report English as a Second Language in California’s Community Colleges By Olga Rodriguez, Sarah Bohn, Laura Hill, Bonnie Brooks Apr 29, 2019 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.
blog post Leveling the Playing Field in College Admissions By Hans Johnson, Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia Apr 17, 2019 Although students from low-income families are less likely to enroll in college than students from high-income families, California is faring better than the rest of the US in broadening access to higher education.
blog post Helping Community College Students Succeed By Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Olga Rodriguez, Hans Johnson Mar 29, 2019 California’s community colleges are moving toward system-wide implementation of concurrent remedial support for students in transfer-level classes. Early evidence suggests that such “co-requisite” support increases course completion.
Report Modernizing California’s Education Data System By Jacob Jackson, Kevin Cook Nov 28, 2018 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.
