The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) recently released two fact sheets detailing college access and readiness throughout the state. Researchers found that the majority of California students graduate high school — thereby fulfilling one requirement for acceptance into one of the state’s four-year university […]
California can look to Texas to improve opportunities for English learner students
Though California and Texas serve similarly sized populations of English learners (ELs) in K-12, the states have their own educational approaches that lead to substantially different outcomes in how students grow both linguistically and academically, according to data.
Mental Health Awareness Month: Teen survey shows social media’s positive and negative effects
Just ahead of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Pew Research Center published its new report, Teens, Social Media and Mental Health, which found that an increasing number of teens find social media harmful.
Student engagement is key to keeping programs relevant
A WestEd webinar held April 23 featured a presentation on approaches and best practices for engaging youth as critical partners in fostering safe, healthy and supportive learning environments and real-world examples of empowering youth in Northern California’s Nevada Union High School District. Improving student engagement […]
Ninth Circuit Court once again finds trustee violated constituents First Amendment right
On May 14, the Ninth Circuit issued a decision in Garnier v. O’Connor-Ratcliff, a case that relates to public officials’ use of social media, and which the U.S. Supreme Court remanded for reconsideration under a newly created standard. CSBA’s Education Legal Alliance (ELA) filed an […]
California and US see less youth in residential placement
While the number of youths in residential placement has been on a steady decline in the U.S. since 2003, an uptick was observed in 2023.
Majority of Gen Z adults value democracy, survey finds
Through a nationally representative survey of 1,286 individuals aged 18-29 that took place following the presidential election in November, the report How Does Gen Z Really Feel About Democracy? Insights from Three Profiles of Youth and Democracy found that most young people (about 63 percent) have a “passive appreciation” of democracy.
Guides shine light on educational experiences of AAPI students
Resource guides published in March by AAPI Data, a research and policy organization based at the University of California, Berkeley’s Asian American Research Center, offer a glimpse of K-12 and higher education trends among Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities.
Governor Newsom releases May Budget Revise
On May 14, Gov. Gavin Newsom released his proposed May Revise to the 2025–26 State Budget. Despite higher than estimated state revenues over the past several months, the May Revise offered a somber view of the state budget in light of significant developments at the federal level.
Creating climate-resilient schools
The impacts of climate change are felt throughout schools in California through extreme heat, wildfires and floods that affect the everyday lives and education of students. Research has shown that rising temperatures and disruptive weather patterns can harm students’ access to school, their health and […]










