What’s Next: A Policy Agenda for Education Equity in California

Nearly 10 million students are enrolled in California’s schools, colleges, and universities. These students will benefit from the steps California policymakers have taken to shift more of our systems toward equity – including adopting more rigorous K-12 standards, adopting an English learner roadmap, implementing the Local Control Funding Formula for K-12 schools, and creating the Student Success Funding Formula for community colleges. Yet we know there is far more work to be done to dismantle the inequities far too many of our students face. California needs to make swift and significant policy changes to ensure our schools and colleges provide the best possible education to our state’s underserved students of color, low-income students, and English learners. Our 2018 Policy Agenda provides a clear path forward, delving into specifics on 7 key policy areas in K-12 and postsecondary education: K-12 Policy Priorities:
  1. Strengthen accountability and offer meaningful support to struggling K-12 schools and districts
  2. Build a strong and diverse K-12 teacher workforce
  3. Address fiscal adequacy and ensure resource equity in K-12 schools and districts
  4. Offer every student a K-12 education that prepares them for college and career opportunities
Higher Education Policy Priorities:
  1. Broaden access and streamline transitions to and through postsecondary education
  2. Ensure college is affordable and provide a pathway for students to graduate without debt
  3. Foster and improve accountability and transparency in our institutions of higher education

Policy Priority Snapshots: K-12 Education

 

Policy Priority Snapshots: Higher & Postsecondary Education

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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.