For decades, remediation has kept predominantly Black and Latinx students in a detrimental cycle of spending tuition on coursework that does not count as a credit toward transferring or earning degrees. California Assembly Bill 705 was designed to tackle the inequitable challenges of remedial education at California's Community Colleges. However,…

With the majority of "good jobs" that pay a family-sustaining wage requiring at least some college education -- such as a technical certificate, associate degree, bachelor's degree or another credential of value -- ensuring the existence of high-quality postsecondary CTE [Career Technical Education] programs and programs of study is more…

In a year that has upended higher education and created great uncertainty, it is more important than ever for students to understand which colleges payoff and how quickly. In April of 2020, Third Way released a report outlining the use of a Price-to-Earnings Premium (PEP) to evaluate the value of attending college and help students assess and…

Between 2014 and 2016, California policymakers invested a half-billion dollars in the California Career Pathways Trust (CCPT). The initiative funded regional and local partnerships to establish career pathways designed to lead secondary school students to postsecondary degrees or certifications aligned with regional workforce needs. This brief…

College students who are parents or caregivers of dependent children make up more than one in five U.S. undergraduates. Colleges need basic information about the experiences and outcomes of the student parents they serve, since these students face distinct challenges, including high rates of economic insecurity and significant time and caregiving…

This brief examines how California is aligning education and training opportunities for people who are currently or formerly incarcerated. It is the first report in our series "Reconnecting Justice in the States," which will explore coordinated justice, education, and workforce policy and practice at the state level. It is part of…

The State of Higher Education for Black Californians is the first in the Campaign for College Opportunity's series of reports on the current state of college access and completion for California's Black; Latinx; and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders. The state of higher education reports also discuss the implications of…

2010 marks the 50th anniversary of California's famed Master Plan for Higher Education, arguably the single most influential effort to plan the future of a system of higher education in the annals of American higher education. This essay builds on the analysis offered in a previous CSHE research paper ("From Chaos to Order and Back") by…

Describes a study of the nature of the changing authority relationship between community colleges and their statewide administration. Focuses on statewide mandates and community college compliance in California. Indicates strong state influence on processes for goal achievement and a trend toward increasingly centralized decision making. (LAL)

Intended as a conceptual framework within which to analyze accountability and governance, this paper by a joint task force of the Chief Executive Officers of the California Community Colleges and the California Community College Trustees offers a model for establishing a new system of accountability for the colleges. Part I presents a statement on…

Drawing from an extensive literature review and interviews with state officials, this paper examines the different methods used in the funding processes of the community colleges in Conncecticut and California, traces the evolution of these funding systems, and offers recommendations on how the two states can learn from the recent changes each has…

Developed in response to the report, "Beyond Access: A Reassessment of California Community Colleges," this position paper by the California Community College Trustees (CCCT) presents three reform recommendations for community college governance. After offering support for many of the specific proposals of the report, the position paper…

Prepared to assist the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges in their review of the recommendations in the Education Code Review, this report presents information on the evolution of the review project, including a specific discussion of the remaining processes for review and modification, and a summary of the major issues and…

Declining enrollments and fiscal stringency in the 1980's and 1990's must be met by a new management style if higher education in California is to maintain quality and meet the educational needs of the public. Unlike the situation in the 1960's and 1970's, higher education is now faced with a no-growth situation brought about by: (1) fewer young…

Developed under mandate by the Master Plan Commission, this report reviews the organization and governance of the California community colleges and offers recommendations regarding structures and processes. Part I provides an introduction to the need for the study of governance and organizational problems and offers a summary of findings drawn…