Senior Research Analyst Dr. Valerie Lundy-Wagner penned an op-ed published by Capitol Weekly calling on California leaders to ensure the state’s education investments work to address equity gaps by creating a new statewide data system. The op-ed was published on May 22, 2019.
It is easy to point to recent public investments that demonstrate the state’s commitment to improving educational and economic opportunity for Californians. But attempt to assess the outcomes of those efforts, and you will come up woefully short.
Over the last decade, the state has invested at least $2.5 billion to support college and career readiness through the California Department of Education, California Community Colleges, California State University, and the University of California as well as through the Workforce Development Board.
Leaders must address the fundamental flaws in the fragmented record keeping California uses now.
The overarching goals were undeniably well-intended: improve achievement and career readiness to increase equity and meet the demand for skilled workers.
