A recent report and corresponding policy brief from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) examines how Black and Latino men are faring following developmental education reform brought on by 2017’s Assembly Bill 705.
Category: Achievement
Financial aid application resources for California high schools
On Nov. 21, the U.S. Department of Education published the 2025–26 FAFSA form for those seeking financial aid for college or career school.
Modest progress on School Dashboard continues trend of sluggish growth
The California Department of Education (CDE) unveiled the latest edition of the California School Dashboard on Nov. 21, touting “continued progress in academic achievement and graduation rates” and a “decline in chronic absenteeism.” While some growth was evident, a look at the underlying data reveals a more complicated picture of student performance — one that demands greater scrutiny of the status quo, increased investment in public schools, and wider replication of local strategies that have accelerated student achievement and well-being.
Assessing 2023–24 CAASPP scores and achievement gaps
The California Department of Education recently released the results of the 2023–24 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). This is the fourth release since the state lifted testing requirements during the pandemic. CDE celebrated these results because some student groups saw positive progress that outpaced statewide averages in math and English language arts. There was notable improvement in some areas, particularly for some groups of historically disadvantaged students in certain assessments. However, the statewide improvement was exceptionally modest, and achievement gaps across student groups remain consistent.
LEAs working to promote critical thinking often use student input
Critical thinking, problem-solving and collaboration are among the skills students need to be successful in life after high school. To foster those skills, local educational agencies must cultivate deeper learning and encourage students to be active participants in their education — but that can be […]
Academic recovery remains uneven, with gains higher in math than ELA
Evidence of academic recovery among students following COVID-19 pandemic disruptions has been mixed. According to a report released in September by the Brookings Institution, most data sources indicate small but promising signs of recovery in math and no widespread evidence of recovery in English language […]
State assessment results show little progress, raising concern for big picture
The 2023–24 scores for statewide English language arts (ELA), math and science assessments published by the California Department of Education (CDE) on Oct. 10 show little improvement or decline in most student groups compared to the previous year. Read a statement from CSBA CEO & […]
State assessment results show little progress, raising concern for big picture
The 2023–24 scores for statewide English language arts (ELA), math and science assessments published by the California Department of Education (CDE) on Oct. 10 show little improvement or decline in most student groups compared to the previous year.
Supporting literacy: What a new survey shows, and one LEA’s efforts to get ahead of the curve
RAND American Teacher Panel findings released Aug. 29 show 40 percent of grade 3-8 teachers hold misconceptions about how students develop word-reading skills, and almost 75 percent say that they need access to more resources to identify and support students with reading difficulties. The San […]
NWEA analysis finds student recovery from pandemic has slowed
A July 2024 report in a continuing series from NWEA examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student achievement and progress toward academic recovery finds that growth for all students lagged pre-pandemic trends in 2023–24. The gap between pre-COVID and current test score averages […]