Report Declining Enrollment in California Schools: Fiscal Challenges and Opportunities in the Coming Decade By Paul Warren, Julien Lafortune Feb 12, 2020 Statewide K–12 enrollment is projected to fall 7% over the next 10 years. Districts with declining enrollment face fiscal pressures, as state funding is tied to the number of students they serve. Enrollment declines also have important implications for the state budget.
Report California’s Tuition Policy for Higher Education: The Impact of Tuition Increases on Affordability, Access, and Quality By Jacob Jackson, Paul Warren Sep 18, 2018 Tuition has risen dramatically at California’s public colleges and universities, and costs are often unpredictable from year to year. Recent recessions highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the state’s current approach to tuition.
event Pathways to College Completion in the San Joaquin Valley Aug 20, 2024 California’s San Joaquin Valley has the lowest college enrollment and completion rates in the state. Yet with its youthful, diverse, growing population; expanding economy; and robust regional networks, it could be on the verge of dramatic improvements. How can institutions, educators, and policymakers expand support for college-going pathways in the valley? Join us for a presentation of new findings and a panel discussion with local leaders.
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.
Report The Effects of School-to-Career Programs on Postsecondary Enrollment and Employment By David Neumark May 19, 2004 School-to-career (STC) programs, which integrate academic education and vocational skills training, seek to improve the transitions of young people from school to work. The School-to-Work Opportunities Act (STWOA), passed by Congress in 1994, provided more than $1.5 billion over a five-year period to support increased school-to-work activities in the nation’s public high schools. However, after its initial five years, STWOA was not reauthorized. In this report, the author uses a national dataset to measure the success of various programs (including Tech Prep and Career Academies, which differ from the STWOA activities). He finds that certain STC activities do promote postsecondary enrollment and employment and that a case can be made for funding the types of programs supported by STWOA. However, he also notes that there is a pressing need for a serious evaluation of the effectiveness of the specific activities remaining in California and of any that might arise in the future.
blog post Getting Students from High-Need Schools into the UC System By Jacob Jackson Jul 13, 2016 Improving completion rates in college prep classes may be the key to boosting the enrollment of disadvantaged students at UC.
blog post College Gender Gap Starts Early and Extends across Races By Hans Johnson, Daniel Payares-Montoya, Marisol Cuellar Mejia May 23, 2023 Along every step of the educational pathway from 9th grade to college completion, women fare better than men. The college gender gap has far-reaching consequences for young men’s economic prospects, especially for those from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups.
Report Keeping College Affordable for California Students By Kevin Cook, Jacob Jackson Dec 1, 2021 California’s financial aid programs reduce tuition for most students. But the state and its higher education institutions can improve college access and success by providing additional aid to lower-income students, addressing growing non-tuition costs, and eliminating barriers that increase the time it takes to earn a degree.
