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What’s Next California

What’s Next California

Ramping Up Educational Justice in California

California leads the nation in many ways, from our industries and innovative technology sector to our commitment to protecting natural resources and immigrant families. We are proud of our progressive values. Yet, even as a progressive state, our schools, colleges, and universities fail to meet the needs of our students of color, low-income, and English learner students. We are currently at a key moment in California’s trajectory. We have the opportunity in front of us – with new state leadership and the continuing work of local advocates – to truly embrace California’s progressive values in a movement for educational justice. The next chapter of educational justice in California requires the collective advocacy of students, parents, teachers, faculty, researchers, and community leaders, as well as state leaders and policymakers. What’sNextCA serves as a hub for those collective efforts, and a compass to ensure our state’s education priorities are clearly and urgently focused on racial equity in education and providing the educational opportunities our most underserved students of color and low-income students so rightly deserve.

7 Key Pillars of Educational Justice

Policy Priorities to Strengthen State Support of Students of Color and Low-Income Students

Read Agenda

As we acknowledge our progress and leadership as a state, we must ensure that our students – the future leaders of California – are equipped to succeed, from preschool through career. The choices we make as a state, and the policies we pass and implement, can either maintain the status quo, or propel us with more urgency on the path to racial justice in education. Ed Trust–West’s policy agenda provides a clear path forward, with actionable guides to better serve our students, families, and our state as a whole.

K-12 Policy Priorities

Strengthen accountability and offer meaningful support to struggling k-12 schools and districts

Build a strong and diverse K-12 teacher workforce

Address fiscal adequacy and ensure resource equity in K-12 schools and districts

Address fiscal adequacy and ensure resource equity in K-12 schools and districts

Higher Education Policy Priorities

Broaden access and streamline transitions to and through postsecondary education

Ensure college is affordable and provide a pathway for students to graduate without debt

Foster and improve accountability and transparency in our institutions of higher education

Take Action in Your Community

Ed Trust-West resources are designed to support community education equity activists – the student leaders, parent advocates, equity-minded teachers, faculty members, administrators, and community leaders who fight for students and families every day.

Data Equity Walk Toolkit

Present and discuss school and district performance data with your school or community

Undocumented Student Toolkit

View and share resources for supporting undocumented students in California

Speaking Truth to Power

Join us in bridging policy and community by driving a statewide conversation about how our education system can better serve students of color and low-income students.

Current legislative proposals that are crucial for advancing educational justice in California

Check out how student leaders and other advocates are championing key K-12 and higher education priorities with state legislators

Check out how student leaders and other advocates are championing key K-12 and higher education priorities with state legislators

Contact State Governor

Contact Lieutenant Governor

Contact State Superintendent of Public Instruction

What’s Next California

Ramping Up Educational Justice in California

Save the Date

Join The Education Trust-West to connect, converse, and collaborate at the 3rd annual Education Equity Forum in Long Beach, CA. Click here to see our 2024 event. 

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At EdTrust-West, we believe a different California is possible:
a California that ensures that Black, Latinx, Asian, 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 | Fax: 510.465.0859

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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.