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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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).

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!

EPFP fellows started their weekend by attending the Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE) conference Celebrating 40 years of Evidence and Impact. Sessions included a retrospective look at the Local Control Funding Formula, equity in college access, English learners, preschool expansion, community schools, and a session with Dr. Michael Kirst (former State Board of Education president) and Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond (current State Board of Education president).

In October 2022, the 2022-23 California Education Policy Fellows (EPFP) resumed in-person meetings for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. For our “Making Change from Where I Sit,” we invited Lupita Cortez Alcalá from WestEd to share about her career and journey. Learn how she worked to create access and opportunities to college and university for students of color to give them future career options in our latest Insights blog.

As we begin 2023, I remain optimistic that the Education Insights Center (EdInsights) will focus on ways we can support California’s higher education system by informing policymaking and improving practice to create more equitable outcomes for students. These past few years have shown us that we can persevere, address equity issues (even in the midst of our racial and health pandemics), and care for our communities and each other.

EPFP is a professional development program focused on education policy (both K-12 and postsecondary) that brings together fellows from across the state to provide professional development in policy, leadership, and networking. It is sponsored by the Institute for Educational Leadership, the state budget, and philanthropic funding from the Hewlett Foundation and College Futures Foundation. The program is entering its seventh year in 2022-23. As a statewide initiative, EPFP provides an opportunity for those from the K-12 and postsecondary practice and policy spheres to come together to break down silos that may exist in order to effectively create change.