California's Education Systems: A Sum of the Moving Parts. A Primer for the California Education Policy Fellowship Program

Education Insights Center. 6000 J Street, Tahoe Hall 3063, Sacramento, CA 95819. Tel: 916-278-3888; Fax: 916-278-3907; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://edinsightscenter.org

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45

Partnerships in Education; Educational Policy; Educational Objectives; Fellowships; Common Core State Standards; Elementary Secondary Education; Postsecondary Education; Educational Attainment; Low Income Students; Poverty; Ethnic Groups; Educational Change; Higher Education; Outcomes of Education; College Readiness; Career Readiness; Community Colleges; Two Year College Students; Graduation Rate; White Students; African American Students; Hispanic American Students; Asian American Students; High School Graduates

California is home to more of the "super rich" than any other state (Pastor & Braun 2015), and yet Californians, on average, have become poorer since the turn of the century. With cost of living taken into account, California now claims the nation's highest rate of poverty (Fox 2017). California's disparities extend beyond economic factors. Based on health status, educational attainment, and income, California has been called the "most unequal state." California is also the most diverse state, and its poverty levels vary widely by ethnic group. Latinx represent about 39 percent of the state population generally, and 54 percent of its K-12 school population. Non-Latinx whites make up 37 percent of the state population (U.S. Census 2017). About 44 percent of California's households speak a language other than English at home, which is more than twice the national average (21%). Latinx in California are about twice as likely as non-Latinx whites to be below the federal poverty threshold (14% vs. 7%), and about 17 percent of blacks are living in poverty (Kaiser 2017). If its educational institutions are to assist in addressing the state's significant disparities and advancing economic growth and civic stability, then schools, colleges, and universities will need to help all students reach their educational goals. Chapter 1 examines key indicators of student progress and completion in California's schools, colleges, and universities. Chapter 2 provides a brief overview of the governance structure of California's education systems and the challenges that this structure presents. Chapter 3 explores California's options to understand and improve all students' opportunities to reach their educational goals across education systems.

ERIC

2019

ED597804