T.E.A. with College Futures

In this T.E.A. conversation, Dr. Mina Dadgar of Education Equity Solutions shares insights on how postsecondary value is evolving and why it needs a more complete definition. The discussion highlights EES' dual value framework, which examines both individual outcomes, like wages and mobility, and the broader role credentials play in supporting communities and critical workforce needs. Drawing on research and learner experiences, the conversation underscores that not all credentials deliver equal returns.

Newsom's executive order for a new coordinated education effort to prepare learners for the workforce of tomorrow is intended to break down long-standing silos between sectors – an aim California Competes, a policy and research organization, worked to accomplish through the Los Angeles County 2nd District California Community Colleges Career Ready Pilot (LA2CCC). Dr. Su Jin Jez, chief executive officer of California Competes, shares more.

Jetaun Stevens, a senior staff attorney with Public Advocates, is well aware of the inequities experienced by today’s learners and is working to support California’s affordable student housing efforts. Stevens shares more about the recently-launched California Affordable Student Housing (CASH) Coalition and offers insight into how equity champions can help address housing insecurity.

Known formally as the Racial Equity Commission for the California Community Colleges, the group is dedicated to transforming institutions to better serve students of color. Dr. Adrián Trinidad, associate director of community college partnerships at the USC REC, shares more about the commission’s racial equity series of projects, including the recent release of a graphic novel and a new framework to reimagine racial equity in California Community Colleges.

The Education Trust—West (ETW) are taking the lead on amplifying the voices of student parents and working to develop system-wide solutions to better support the postsecondary success and comprehensive well-being of student parents and their families. Maya Valree, ETW’s policy analyst (parenting students), offers her thoughts on why California’s student parents must be included in higher education’s equity conversations and shares ETW’s plans for improving student parent support.

Just Equations and The Campaign for College Opportunity recently partnered to release Greater Equity in Higher Education Through Math Opportunity. Pamela Burdman, Just Equations’ executive director and co-author of the brief, provides more insight into how math is a critical component of the higher education equity conversations; she offers her thoughts on where California’s public postsecondary systems currently stand in their math equity quests and where there is room to grow.