While California has steadily improved its Cal Grant application rates, it can do even better. Paving the Path to College Aid: Expanding Access to the Cal […]
Each year, over 300,000 eligible students are turned away from Cal Grant awards. Ed Trust–West’s latest Equity Alert, Improving Cal Grant Equity, highlights three barriers to […]
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 […]
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 […]
The California Department of Education has released the new California School Dashboard, replacing the field test version from earlier this year. The web-based dashboard includes new, […]
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 […]
In November of 2016, the U.S. Department of Education issued final regulations to implement provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) regarding school accountability, data […]
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. […]
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.