For many marginalized groups, attending college remains an unattainable goal, with most questioning if the tassel is worth the hassle. Recent trends indicate fewer Latino and Black high school students aspire to attend college, with numbers dropping considerably in the past few years. Experts attribute this trend to rising inflation, low unemployment rates, and increasing college costs, which have made the opportunity cost of higher education exceptionally high for low-income, first-generation students and men of color.
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Beyond Syntax: The Power of Framing in the Research Process for Institutional Planning and Effectiveness
As the demand for data continues to increase and inform institutional decisions and practices, many of the resources available on data gathering, such as data-driven approaches or data analytics, have failed to emphasize one vital factor of effective research:the importance of framing in the research process. Framing plays a critical role in the development of research question(s) that guide a project, which can also serve as a framework throughout the research process, and in making meaning of research findings.
EdInsights Welcomes Dr. Madeleine Kerrick as Its New Executive Director!
It’s with great enthusiasm that we look forward to a year of change at EdInsights. Next month we will announce a new executive director, poised to lead our work within California’s educational community. As we enter 2025, we reflect on the transformative impacts within our center, and take this as an opportunity to share our progress with all of you.
Empowering Futures: Analyzing Outcomes for Umoja Students
This report examines demographics and academic outcomes, analyzes effective program design elements from the 2023-24 Umoja programs that increase Umoja student success—measured by students’ perceived self-concept, sense of belonging within Umoja, and academic self-efficacy—and outlines strategies reported by Umoja college program core teams for aligning effective program design elements with broader core services and supports.
Building Momentum and Looking Forward in 2025
It’s with great enthusiasm that we look forward to a year of change at EdInsights. Next month we will announce a new executive director, poised to lead our work within California’s educational community. As we enter 2025, we reflect on the transformative impacts within our center, and take this as an opportunity to share our progress with all of you.
Building Cohesion to Support Student Success: The Role of CTE in Unifying California’s Community College Initiatives
Historically, CTE programs have been instrumental in preparing students for the workforce by providing them with practical skills and hands-on experience. These programs offer a powerful medium to bring together various funding initiatives and frameworks within California’s community colleges. These programs, with their focus on practical, skills-based education, are uniquely positioned to address the dual needs of workforce development and student achievement.
Why Student Parent Success Matters for California
As we celebrate National Student Parent Month and settle into the start of a new academic year for student parents and their children, it is important to remember that championing student parent success is not just about helping a specific group of students succeed — it’s about investing in the future of California and the future of our youngest learners, more than 500,000+ of which have a parent in school. Research consistently shows that when student parents earn a degree, their children directly benefit.
Elevating Leadership: Addressing the Needs of English Learners in California
The state of California has the largest EL student population in the nation at 19.1%. Multilingual learners are often subject to a deficit orientation in schools that focuses on what they are assumed to lack rather than the assets that they bring from their multiple languages and cultures. The term English Learner itself assumes that racialized multilingual learners are lacking in their ability to speak and understand English. Current and future multilingual learners face many challenges posed by a slew of structural imbalances as well as this deficit framing — such as economic hardship, segregation, interrupted schooling, under-resourced schools, lack of ESL/bilingual certified teachers and low expectations.
Building Cohesion to Support Student Success: A Focus on Career and Technical Education for All
CTE is defined by the California Department of Education as a program of study that combines core academic knowledge with technical and occupational skills to provide a path for students into postsecondary education, training, and/or career. CTE programs are offered by most high schools across the state and feed into degree programs at local community colleges and four-year universities. CTE provides a vital link between educational and career pathways in a way that can profoundly impact students’ life trajectories by providing them with space to explore potential career interests.
Reflecting on Our Commitment to Racial Equity: EdInsights’ Journey Since 2020
Like many organizations, in May of 2020, EdInsights released a statement acknowledging calls for racial justice spurred by law enforcement’s murder of George Floyd and recommitting to actions that advance racial equity in education. As we look forward to celebrating Juneteenth this year, we offer this reflection on how EdInsights has lived into this commitment over the intervening years.
Leveraging Social Capital for Collective Impact: Leading the Bay Area K-16 Collaborative
The heights of achievement possible for students vastly surpasses the existing commitment and capability of our school system. Now is the time to imagine and create the educational environment and community that actually nurtures and unleashes every child’s full potential and success.
Building Cohesion Among Current Frameworks and Initiatives Statewide for Optimal Student Success
While sustained funding initiatives are important, the need to learn from previous efforts in a way that allows for a consolidation of the myriad of ongoing initiatives and builds cohesion within institutions is equally important. The results of such efforts have the potential to transform educational structures and policies in support of students’ needs, particularly those belonging to marginalized groups.
By Design, Not By Chance: ‘Moments’ in an Educational Journey
The heights of achievement possible for students vastly surpasses the existing commitment and capability of our school system. Now is the time to imagine and create the educational environment and community that actually nurtures and unleashes every child’s full potential and success.
Exploring Intersegmental Transfer Partnerships
Since 2016, College Futures Foundation has supported several intersegmental partnerships between California State University (CSU) campuses and California community colleges in their regions. In an effort to learn more about these transfer partnership efforts, College Futures Foundation partnered with Education Insights Center (EdInsights) to engage key constituents in a retrospective learning engagement that included a survey, interviews, and meaning making sessions.
Dr. Madeleine R. Kerrick Appointed as Interim Executive Director!
EdInsights is pleased to announce Dr. Madeleine R. Kerrick as its Interim Executive Director. Dr. Kerrick draws on nearly two decades of experience working in equity and social justice within healthcare and education. With an established record of securing funding, producing quality research, and building highly collaborative and successful teams, Dr. Kerrick is well-positioned to lead the center during this time of transition.
College Futures Foundation Supported California State University – California Community College Transfer Partnerships: A Retrospective Look
This collaborative report with The College Futures Foundation analyzes the transformative partnerships undertaken from...
Fellowship Insights: “Preschool-to-Leadership Pipeline”
The heights of achievement possible for students vastly surpasses the existing commitment and capability of our school system. Now is the time to imagine and create the educational environment and community that actually nurtures and unleashes every child’s full potential and success.
Looking Forward to an Exciting Year Ahead in 2024
As we continue to step into a new year, we wanted to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude for your continued support and engagement. Looking ahead, we are excited about the opportunities and experiences that await us.
EPFP Washington Policy Seminar
EPFP Fellows attended the Washington Policy Seminar, an annual convening in Washington D.C. hosted by The Institute for Education Leadership, the organization that oversees the Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP).
The Final Weekend
EPFP fellows enjoyed their final weekend with engaging workshops on higher education reform, education equity, and student success. Congratulations to the EPFP 2022-23 EPFP Cohort!