• About Us

    Our People

    • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Strategic Advisors
    • Educator Advisory Council
    • The CORE Collective
    • FIERCE Student Fellows
    • Russlynn Ali Fellows
    • Jobs and Internships

    Regional Engagement

    • Bay Area Headquarters
    • Greater Los Angeles
    • Sacramento
    • Other Priority Regions

    Our Impact

    Our Supporters

  • What We Do

    Research and Data Analysis

    • Research Agenda
    • Data Tools
    • Research in Brief Series

    Policy Advocacy

    • Policy Agenda
    • This Year's Equity 8
    • Equity 8 Advocacy Throughout the Years

    What We Do

    Regional Engagement

    Educator Engagement

    Government Relations

  • Our Priorities

    Priorities

    Equipping each student with what they need to thrive

    Topics

    • Educator Diversity, Recruitment & Retention
    • Parenting Students

    Empowering learning for students of color & multilingual learners

    Topics

    • Math Equity
    • English Learner Roadmap Implementation

    Priorities

    Removing barriers to college access & success

    Topics

    • College and Career Readiness and Access
    • Dual Enrollment
    • Equitable Course Placement and Completion
    • Financial Aid Access & Reform

    Ensuring California’s education funding is increased and distributed equitably

    Topics

    • State Funding for Education
    • K-12 Funding Equity

    Priorities

    Strengthening education systems to advance equity

    Topics

    • Transitional Kindergarten
    • State Data System
    • Multilingual Learners
    • Race-Conscious Policymaking
    • Accountability Systems
  • Our Initiatives

    All In For Financial Aid

    Black Minds Matter

    Data for the People

    High-Quality Instructional Materials

    Math Matters

    The California Alliance for Student Parent Success

  • Our Resources

    Our Resources

    Publications and Reports

    Advocacy Tools

    Blog

    Press Room

    The Archive

  • Get Involved

    Donate

    Join us in improving California’s education systems for all students. 

    Events

    Stay up to date with our current
    events.

    What You Can Do

    Connect with us and learn how you can make a difference.

  • Contact Us

    Contact Us

    Contact one of our team members.

    Subscribe

    Stay up to date! Subscribe to our newsletter.

    Jobs and Internships

    Are you ready to make an impact? Join us.

Donate
Donate
  • What We Do

    Research and Data Analysis

    • Research Agenda
    • Data Tools
    • Research in Brief Series

    Policy Advocacy

    • Policy Agenda
    • This Year's Equity 8
    • Equity 8 Advocacy Throughout the Years

    What We Do

    Regional Engagement

    Educator Engagement

    Government Relations

  • About Us

    Our People

    • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Strategic Advisors
    • Educator Advisory Council
    • The CORE Collective
    • FIERCE Student Fellows
    • Russlynn Ali Fellows
    • Jobs and Internships

    Regional Engagement

    • Bay Area Headquarters
    • Greater Los Angeles
    • Sacramento
    • Other Priority Regions

    Our Impact

    Our Supporters

  • Our Priorities

    Priorities

    Equipping each student with what they need to thrive

    Topics

    • Educator Diversity, Recruitment & Retention
    • Parenting Students

    Empowering learning for students of color & multilingual learners

    Topics

    • Math Equity
    • English Learner Roadmap Implementation

    Priorities

    Removing barriers to college access & success

    Topics

    • College and Career Readiness and Access
    • Dual Enrollment
    • Equitable Course Placement and Completion
    • Financial Aid Access & Reform

    Ensuring California’s education funding is increased and distributed equitably

    Topics

    • State Funding for Education
    • K-12 Funding Equity

    Priorities

    Strengthening education systems to advance equity

    Topics

    • Transitional Kindergarten
    • State Data System
    • Multilingual Learners
    • Race-Conscious Policymaking
    • Accountability Systems
  • Our Initiatives

    All In For Financial Aid

    Black Minds Matter

    Data for the People

    High-Quality Instructional Materials

    Math Matters

    The California Alliance for Student Parent Success

  • Our Resources

    Our Resources

    Publications and Reports

    Advocacy Tools

    Blog

    Press Room

    The Archive

  • Get Involved

    Donate

    Join us in improving California’s education systems for all students. 

    Events

    Stay up to date with our current events.

    What You Can Do

    Connect with us and learn how you can make a difference.

  • Contact Us

    Contact Us

    Contact one of our team members.

    Subscribe

    Stay up to date! Subscribe to our newsletter.

    Jobs and Internships

    Are you ready to make an impact? Join us.

Dual Enrollment

  TK-12 to Higher Education Transition 

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Featured Resource

Dual Enrollment Advocacy Toolkit

EdTrust-West 04/04/2025

Dual Enrollment Advocacy Toolkit Share: Thank you for your interest in #DualEnrollmentforAll! Dual enrollment provides students with the unique opportunity to enroll in college classes while

Read More

The Latest

Dual Enrollment Advocacy Toolkit

EdTrust-West 04/04/2025
Read More

Jumpstarting California Towards Universal Dual Enrollment

EdTrust-West 03/26/2025
Read More

Community Guide for Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Updates

EdTrust-West 04/19/2024
Read More

The Power of Now: EdTrust-West’s 2023-24 Policy Agenda

EdTrust-West 11/02/2023
Read More

Fast Forward California will prepare local schools and communities to make good on massive Golden State Pathways investments

EdTrust-West 04/19/2023
Read More

Dual Enrollment Resources for Students and Families

EdTrust-West 02/28/2023
Read More
Page1 Page2

Featured Experts

Camille Medrano

Camille Medrano

Senior Associate Educator Engagement
Carol Hedgspeth, Ph.D.

Carol Hedgspeth, Ph.D.

Deputy Director
Denise Luna

Denise Luna

Director of Higher Education Policy
Maya Valree

Maya Valree

Senior Policy Analyst - Parenting Students
Melissa Bardo

Melissa Bardo

Associate Director of Policy and Government Relations
Michael-Sesen Perrilliat

Michael-Sesen Perrilliat

Higher Education Policy Analyst

Related Topics

At EdTrust-West, we believe a different California is possible:

a California that ensures that Black, Latinx, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native American students’ futures are as bright as their dreams are big. We believe that our state’s schools, colleges, and universities can form the bedrock of a more just California.

Committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in California’s education system.

California Offices: Oakland, Los Angeles, Sacramento

National Office: EdTrust

State Offices: EdTrust-New York, EdTrust-Tennessee, EdTrust-Midwest

Tel: 510.465.6444

Facebook-f Instagram Linkedin

Help Us Improve: Quick 3-Question Survey
Read our Accessibility Statement

Copyright EdTrust-West © 2024

Designed by Division Web Design

Karla Fernandez

Communications Manager

Karla Fernandez (she/her/hers) joins Ed Trust–West as a Communications Manager with over 11 years of experience advancing social impact initiatives.

Karla started her career as a teacher at Chicago Public Schools and UIC College Prep. After teaching, Karla joined United Friends of the Children to support LA County’s youth in foster care as a college counselor. Through Leadership for Educational Equity, Karla also served as a Policy Advisor Fellow for the office of a Los Angeles Unified School Board Member. She solidified her interests in policy analysis and quantitative research during her time with the Price Center for Social Innovation, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, and the USC Presidential Working Group on Sustainability. Before joining The Education Trust–West, Karla was the Associate Director for the Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) Collaborative, a network of nonprofits advocating for communities in SELA.

Karla holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from the University of Chicago, a Master of Public Policy from the USC Price School of Public Policy, and a Graduate Certificate in Policy Advocacy from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Karla is based out of southern California and is passionate about using data analysis, communications, and digital strategies for policy advocacy and social justice efforts.