In 2021, California committed to providing universal prekindergarten (UPK) for all 4-year-olds and expanding access for income-eligible 3-year-olds by 2025-2026. California UPK includes several early learning programs, including transitional kindergarten (TK), the California State Preschool Program (CSPP), Head Start, and locally funded early…

Racism exists within communities and within colleges. It is ever-present in the structures that professionals in the California Community Colleges system work within and that students of color must navigate. Striving to achieve equity is not enough and is not possible within the current community college system. Policies, processes, and other…

New Leaders is a nonprofit organization with a mission to ensure high academic achievement for all students by developing outstanding school leaders to serve in urban schools. Its premise is that a combination of preparation and improved working conditions for principals, especially greater autonomy, would lead to improved student outcomes. Its…

New Leaders is dedicated to promoting student achievement by developing outstanding school leaders to serve in urban schools. RAND Corporation researchers conducted a formative and summative external evaluation of the New Leaders program, its theory of action, and its implementation from 2006 through 2013. This document presents technical…

A professional development program for leadership, Coaching Leaders to Attain Student Success (CLASS), prepares individuals to coach new and experienced school principals. The program is the product of collaboration between the New Teacher Center at University of California Santa Cruz and the Association of California School Administrators. (MLF)

This report provides guidance and information on resources to assist elementary schools, parents, community members, and policymakers in implementing a systemic approach to standards-based education. It makes clear recommendations on how schools can achieve a coordinated system in which standards, assessment, accountability, and curriculum are…

This paper briefly discusses trends since the mid-1960's and the situation as of 1981 with regard to faculty status for academic librarians, particularly in California. Issues mentioned include working the academic as opposed to the calendar year, promotion, job qualifications, tenure, sabbatical leaves, research requirements, writing for…

This book explains how California schools, working with the "Education for the Future" initiative, have integrated technology and data-based decision making into their school improvement efforts. The book is a guide to improving school performance by constructing a school portfolio. The chapters are: (1) "Introduction: The Need for…

A migrant education resource teacher from California describes the personal and professional benefits she obtained from her participation in the Springfield project, a role-playing seminar/workshop for administrators. (TE)

Aiming to provide a coherent and useful guide to practitioners, this paper presents highlights of discussions held at a seminar that focused on how to create powerful reading programs for all of California's students. The paper also provides an extensive summary of key findings of research, a description of effective classroom and school…

This science framework is about connections. Each section draws on and contributes to those that precede and follow it. The framework opens with a discussion of the nature of science and the need for science educators to model the attributes of scientific investigation including objectivity, testability, and consistency. The framework also calls…

This document summarizes key recommendations developed to address the needs and issues of low-income students of color, many of whom are also English language learners. It grew out of discussions among California school district superintendents, school board members, and other educators. These educators noted that 60% of California students are…

This volume was intended to stimulate new thinking about how to restructure a school program to effectively educate students whose native language is not English. It favors calling such students "English Language Learners" (ELLs). The document provides specific examples of how some California schools have improved their educational…

This publication discusses effective leadership by presenting descriptions of practices for educational leaders. It focuses on six standards, known as the California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (CPSEL). The California standards, generated from national standards, have been updated and refined to reflect the continuing shift…

This guide was developed for two purposes: to enrich science and mathematics programs in schools and to encourage the professional growth of teachers of science and mathematics. A basic premise behind the development of this guide is that all students should have a variety of learning experiences, especially students in categorical programs such…