TOPIC

College & Careers

College and career readiness is a primary goal of all the major reforms in place in California. But how to ensure that every high school graduates leaves high school with academic and other skills they will need to succeed in a postsecondary world? Many school districts don’t even have a clear definition of what college and career readiness means. EdSource will cast light on successful college and career preparation strategies — as well as on obstacles students face at both a pre-K-12 and postsecondary level.

June 20, 2017

California colleges transform remedial courses to raise graduation rates

Co-requisite courses combine college and remedial level material, give more class time and offer more tutoring. More colleges in California and other states are expected to introduce them.

Larry Gordon

June 14, 2017

California urged to improve college access for young men of color

The high school graduation and college attendance rates for black, Latino, Native American and Pacific Islander young men is well below that of whites and Asians. A new study by the Education Trust-West urges barriers be lifted and more support offered for those minority male students.

Larry Gordon

June 13, 2017

California middle class families may still get scholarship help

The Legislature wants to maintain financial aid for UC and CSU students from families earning between $80,000 and $150,000 a year. But that conflicts with Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to phase out the program.

Larry Gordon

June 11, 2017

Middle-school students embrace endless summer ... of linear equations

Free summer programs help kids struggling in math get a head start on algebra and geometry.

Carolyn Jones

June 7, 2017

Q & A: Poor students and English learners did better on tests but achievement gaps yet to narrow

Standardized test results from 2015 and 2016 show disadvantaged students aren't progressing as quickly as wealthier, English-fluent peers.

Theresa Harrington

May 25, 2017

No high school diploma? You've got options!

This EdSource guide offers advice and links to resources for students who did not graduate from high school.

Susan Frey

May 22, 2017

California colleges welcome revived federal Pell grants for summer school

To the happy surprise of some officials, thousands of California students may benefit from the expansion of federal Pell grants into summer sessions. The extra funding is expected to help speed up the time to graduation for low-income students.

Larry Gordon

May 22, 2017

White House seeks billions in cuts to higher education spending

Trump's budget proposal must still win Congressional approval. Among the deep spending cuts are $143 billion in cuts to higher education over the next decade, according to a budget summary released on Monday.

Mikhail Zinshteyn

May 18, 2017

UC adopts limits on undergraduates from outside state, but allows some growth

The new policy is a compromise that allows five campuses to grow their out-of-state undergraduates to 18 percent, while freezing such enrollment at the four campuses already above that level. One regent said UC was "building a wall" around the university.

Larry Gordon

May 16, 2017

Another school rating system, more data on racial, ethnic disparities

GreatSchools debuts a multiple-measure view of California's schools.

John Fensterwald

May 11, 2017

Budget plan withholds $50 million from UC pending audit compliance and fully funds Cal Grants at private colleges

The governor's May budget revision reverses his plan to reduce Cal Grants used at private colleges. He enters the controversy over a critical audit of UC by withholding $50 million until the university system shows that it better controls spending and improves management.

Larry Gordon

May 9, 2017

CSU officials: Remedial education reform will change lives and not 'dumb down' classes

With nearly 40 percent of incoming freshmen needing remediation in English or math, CSU is planning ways to make sure those students earn college credit from the start. Many details remain to be figured out, officials said.

Larry Gordon

May 8, 2017

Free Khan Academy SAT tutorials boost scores, study finds

The free courses increased scores an average of 115 points from earlier and preliminary scores.

Larry Gordon

May 1, 2017

Report praises UC for enrolling low-income students; criticizes other elite universities

The study contends that Pell grant students would have a better chance at graduating if they started at four-year, elite colleges. It says that affluent campuses can easily afford to enroll more.

Larry Gordon

April 30, 2017

Financial aid is key to the final and often tough choice of colleges

Students from low-income and immigrant families may face particularly difficult decisions in weighing colleges' financial aid offers. Some families are very resistant to loans.