Publications & Reports
Through research and by exploring practices and policies that work and identifying those that don’t, we aim to provide the information and tools necessary to improve and maximize the educational experience for all students, TK through college. Our publications are diverse and intended for advocates, policymakers, educators, and even parents.
TK
Equitable access to early education is critical to improving long-term educational outcomes for students, especially those from under-resourced communities. At EdTrust-West, we work to uncover the layers of inequities in transitional kindergarten, from inequitable access to high-quality programs, to wage disparities for educators, and disproportionate discipline for young Black children. We are committed to ensuring equitable access to high-quality early learning opportunities, with focus on improving access to transitional kindergarten programs.
K-12 Education
At EdTrust-West, our work centers on identifying disparities within the K-12 education system, developing research-based policy and practice proposals to address these disparities, and advocating for evidence-based and innovative approaches and solutions. We’re committed to promoting equitable funding, improving educational standards and cultural relevance, strengthening supports for multilingual learners, and ensuring more students from marginalized communities are graduating from high school ready to enter the workforce or pursue higher education.
Higher Education
Higher education has never been more critical to economic opportunity and mobility, and our state’s colleges and universities at all levels can do much more to retain and graduate students from marginalized backgrounds. EdTrust-West is dedicated to eradicating barriers faced by students of color in higher education – ensuring equitable access to financial aid, expanding dual enrollment opportunities for Black, Latinx, and Native students, and addressing the racial inequities in remedial education.
English learners
English learners (also known as multilingual learners or emergent bilinguals) make up nearly one in five students in California public schools. Providing multilingual learners with the supports they need to develop English language skills and academic proficiency — while celebrating the cultural and linguistic assets they bring to school — is critical for ensuring equitable access and success. We’re working to develop research-based recommendations and tools that education systems can implement to support these learners — from early education through the college pipeline — and help cultivate their future success.
Equity Alert: From Good to Great – How to Maximize Equity in California’s Statewide Free College Program
A “free college” movement is sweeping the nation and taking hold in California. Adopted last year and funded this year, the California College Promise program gives
Equity Alert: Holding Alternative Schools, Districts, and County Offices Accountable for All Students’ Success
One out of every 10 high school seniors in California finishes their final high school year at an alternative school. Yet, so far, these schools haven’t
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2017 Results
Different than the Smarter Balanced assessments California students take each year, the National Assessment of Educational Progress is a test that monitors how student achievement changes
Equity Alert: Getting Community College Student Success Funding Right
In his proposed budget for 2018-19, Governor Jerry Brown included a proposal to fund the state’s California Community College system more equitably. The new formula would
Unlocking Learning II: Math as a Lever for English Learner Equity
Second in a series exploring English learner equity in California schools, a new report from The Education Trust—West highlights how students learning English are faring in
The Majority Report: Supporting the Success of Latino Students in California
Get the Full Report View the Infographic See the Policy Timeline Stay Informed – Join Our Email List “The Majority Report: Supporting the Educational Success of
Student Achievement Analysis: Results of the 2016-17 Smarter Balanced Assessments
Recently, the California Department of Education released statewide test results that show how schools and districts are doing. These assessments measure the types of high-level skills
Equity Alert: The 5 Things We Were Looking for in California’s ESSA State Plan – How did the State do?
California’s draft Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan is now open for public comment. The plan details how California will adhere to the requirements of the
Hear My Voice: Strengthening the College Pipeline for Young Men of Color in California
California’s young men of color continue to face troubling academic disparities and persistent discrimination on their path to and through higher education, finds our new report,
LCFF and LCAP Resources
For the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) to fulfill its promise of closing opportunity and achievement gaps, stakeholders – especially those advocating for English Learners, foster
Equity Alert: How to Prioritize Equity in the New California Dashboard
In March 2017, the California Department of Education released the new California School Dashboard. These web‐based dashboards communicate information about schools and districts using multiple measures
Undocumented Students in California: What You Should Know
Undocumented Students in California: What You Should Know, provides a quick and accessible snapshot of our state’s undocumented student population. The resource highlights key demographic data on
The Steep Road to Resource Equity in California Education
California’s Local Control Funding Formula promised to give more resources to the students who need the most: English learners, foster youth, and low-income students. So, how
Report: The Steep Road To Resource Equity In California Education
Read the Report
Black Minds Matter Student Day of Advocacy Video
The California Alliance of African American Educators (CAAAE) , the Umoja Community of Scholars, Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement (COPE), and the California Student Aid Commission, along with The Education Trust
Unlocking Learning: Science as a Lever for English Learner Equity
Based on in-depth site visits and featuring real-world examples of high-performing schools, high-quality professional development, and innovative classroom practices, Unlocking Learning: Science as a Lever
Equity Policy Memo
In 2014 the passage of Proposition 47 brought additional funding to California public schools, with the explicit purpose of supporting vulnerable students, keeping them in school
Results of the 2015-16 Smarter Balanced Assessments in California
The results on California’s Common Core-aligned Smarter Balanced assessments give us a look at how our schools and districts are doing as they prepare students for
Puzzling Plans and Budgets: Making Sense of California’s Second Year Local Control and Accountability Plans
Three years after the California Legislature invested nearly $13 billion into schools through the Local Control Funding Formula, it’s still unclear where those dollars are going.