April 30, 2020

by California Competes

Degree Attainment Employment Race and Ethnicity Regions Ed Equity Adults COVID-19 Workforce

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Policy Priorities

A Pathway to Economic Recovery for Every Californian

Advancing the skills needed to rebuild our state's economy

California leaders face an urgent need to address the COVID-19 pandemic and build a resilient and inclusive state economy. Policymakers must prioritize equitable postsecondary and workforce opportunities and outcomes to ensure our state’s regional economies and communities can weather this crisis, recover quickly, and withstand future threats. California Competes recommends immediate action to achieve three critical goals:

  • Drive inclusive economic recovery and future resiliency by strengthening the education-to-employment pipeline.

  • Leverage employment disruption to make college a reality for adults by offering clear pathways to and through higher education.

  • Advance programs and services that deliver equitable results through the swift design and launch of the Cradle-to-Career Data System.

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Beyond our three primary policy priorities, California Competes enables strategic decisionmaking for our leaders.

The scope of our work extends beyond our policy priorities to ensure leaders have access to the information needed to support a robust higher education and workforce ecosystem where more people of color and underrepresented students earn meaningful credentials and whose talents match the demands of the 21st century. In 2020, we will release the following:

  • California Postsecondary to Prosperity Index — a dynamic, user-friendly data visualization tool for regional and state analyses of the education-to-employment pipeline.

  • California Higher Education Frequently Asked Questions — a reliable source of information on common questions about California higher education and the economy.

Download our 2020 Policy Priorities.

Recent Posts

Policy & Analysis

Governor’s January Budget Proposal Reinvests in California’s Higher Education System

Gail Yen | January 11, 2021

The Governor’s 2021-22 Budget Proposal contains no cuts to California’s three public higher education systems and instead offers funding increases to address equity gaps, promote completion rates, and support students’ upward economic mobility.

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Policy & Analysis

Strategies to Increase Diversity in STEM Fields

Su Jin Gatlin Jez | December 17, 2020

When California Competes facilitated a focus group with the California Business Roundtable and some of the organization’s members, it became clear that despite an increased focus on recruiting a more diverse talent pool into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, there’s still a great need for policy reforms—both in higher education and the workforce.

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Op-Ed

Op-Ed Highlights Need for Equitable High-Speed Internet in California

California Competes | November 09, 2020

EdSource published commentary from California Competes Executive Director Dr. Su Jin Gatlin Jez and ECMC Foundation President Peter J. Taylor, calling for better access to high-speed internet. Broadband access aligns with California Competes’s commitment to equity by ensuring that every Californian has the connectivity they need to pursue higher education and engage in an increasingly web-centered world.

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California Competes is a project of Community Partners.