Coordinating Entity Could Leverage Commonalities Across Key Programs
In her latest blog post, California Competes Executive Director Dr. Su Jin Gatlin Jez examines the new state budget. From increased funding for a host of higher education programs to prioritizing equity and access—several significant investments will be critical to building shared growth and prosperity in a post-pandemic California. In many ways, the budget is a win for Californians seeking higher education.
However, these initiatives need and deserve careful, well-informed, and coordinated execution. As our analysis shows, if California had a state-level higher education coordinating entity, these programs could be housed and administered in ways that would maximize their potential, avoid redundancies, and protect the capacity of existing agencies.
Without a state coordinating entity, California risks spending billions on efforts that create and reinforce siloed, complex, and inefficient programs and systems.
Dr. Su Jin Gatlin Jez
Dr. Jez takes a closer look at five key programs:
- Learning-Aligned Employment Program
- Golden State Education, Entrepreneurship, and Training Grant Program
- California For All College Service Program
- K–16 Regional Collaboratives
- Low-Cost Student Housing Grant Program
“Without a state coordinating entity, California risks spending billions on efforts that create and reinforce siloed, complex, and inefficient programs and systems,” Dr. Jez says. “These promising programs would be significantly strengthened, allowing for more Californians to be served and supercharging our economy, if there were a statewide coordinating entity charged with building the connective tissue between the programs and leading with Californians’ needs first.”
