The current school closures and potential future remote learning challenges have prompted the creation of the "Learning Apart, Staying Connected: A Distance Learning Playbook" aimed at aiding California school districts in developing effective distance learning plans. Recognizing the absence of a clear roadmap for this unprecedented situation, the playbook emerged as a practical resource at the request of educational leaders seeking actionable guidance amidst a myriad of options. Tailored for small- and medium-sized district administrators, it prioritizes integrating the needs of English Learners into distance learning strategies. Organized around five key questions, it offers diverse sample approaches accommodating different accessibility contexts—digital, print-based, or hybrid. The playbook also provides specific advice on supporting various student groups, including English Learners and students with disabilities, aiding teachers, and engaging with families. Collaboratively crafted by Entangled Solutions, informed by expertise in online learning and insights from California and China's educational landscapes during closures, the resource continually evolves with input from educators and leaders in the field. It aims to serve as a foundation for future preparedness in unforeseen circumstances, aiming to address local needs effectively through adaptable strategies and learnings from ongoing feedback.

COVID-19's closure of California's educational institutions has profoundly impacted learning, equity, and access. Efforts now concentrate on remote learning support, essential non-instructional services, and aiding students with special needs. PACE seeks to bolster these initiatives, gather best practices, and provide real-time research for informed decision-making. Anticipating challenges upon students' return, especially those facing trauma, PACE plans to focus on data collection, student support, system capacity, and resource allocation. This includes addressing learning loss, supporting vulnerable populations, fostering engagement, integrating services across agencies, and seeking adequate funding amid economic strains. PACE intends to employ diverse approaches—reviewing existing research, collecting new data, testing innovations, and analyzing policy options—to aid educators, policymakers, and the public in navigating this crisis and leveraging education for recovery

The 2020 PACE Annual Conference unveiled the latest PACE/USC Rossier Poll results, showcasing California voters' views on key education-related issues. Presenters emphasized the poll's value in understanding voter concerns. Key findings revealed growing pessimism about school quality, a preference for across-the-board teacher salary increases, and concerns about college affordability and fairness in admissions. Voters also stressed addressing gun violence in schools. The panel discussed the state budget, highlighting the need for enhanced higher education accessibility, increased teacher salaries, and a more nuanced approach to education funding. They debated the governor's budget's alignment with voter priorities, noting the need for more support in higher education and teacher salaries and a more effective approach to recruiting teachers.

"Getting Down to Facts" is a new research initiative commissioned by Governor Schwarzenegger's Committee on Education Excellence, state Democratic leaders, and Superintendent Jack O'Connell. Led by Susanna Loeb, a Stanford Graduate School of Education Professor and PACE codirector, this project seeks to explore California's school finance and governance systems. Its objective is to provide comprehensive insights essential for assessing the effectiveness of potential reforms. The initiative addresses three key questions: the current state of school finance and governance, optimizing existing resources for improved student outcomes, and evaluating the need for additional resources to meet educational goals. The studies from this project are expected to be available by January 2007.