Getting Down To Facts Driving Questions

Getting Down to Facts is building a common understanding of California’s PreK-12 school system and the most promising opportunities for improvement in order to inform policy decisions that can ensure California continues to move in the right direction on behalf of all students in the state. The research project is informed by the experiences and insights of a wide range of Californians through our listening tour, community advisory groups, and state-wide engagement. Our project is focused on improving the educational experiences of California’s students, through high quality evidence and research.

As California approaches new gubernatorial leadership in 2026, it is time to take stock and bring together a diverse set of researchers to equip state and local policymakers and educators with evidence and insights to inform the next chapter of education policy and practice in California. In addition to the upcoming change in state leadership, California schools are facing fresh challenges and new opportunities that call for updated approaches.

Building on the work of Getting Down to Facts and Getting Down to Facts II in 2007 and 2018 respectively, the third round of Getting Down to Facts aims to provide California policymakers, educators and families with information on the current state of California’s education system and the most promising paths forward. A group of California and national funders will support a comprehensive set of individual studies that contribute to the overall research agenda driven by the goals and insights of diverse Californians.

Research Agenda

Where are California’s most significant areas of need and where are examples of excellence that can serve as models? We will look across regions and student groups to understand learning, college readiness, absenteeism, and material need, as well as the resources – including dollars, teachers, courses, programs, and facilities – available to students across the state.

How can California deliver excellent instruction for all students and respond with excellence to changing needs and opportunities? We will identify areas of strength and areas for improvement in California’s teacher recruitment and preparation, frameworks and instructional materials, support for instructional improvement, and governance structures so that the state can facilitate instructional improvement most effectively.

How can California provide the best possible educational experiences for Multilingual learners? We will identify programs, supports, teachers’ professional learning approaches, assessments, and a range of other factors that affect multilingual learners’ educational experiences and outcomes in order for California to provide the best possible opportunities for students.

How can California leverage new technology to transform students’ educational experiences so that schools are meaningfully both more effective and more engaging? New technologies provide opportunities for personalization, for processing data to make operations easier and more strategic, for seamless measurement, and for a range of other educational improvements. We will identify approaches that California can take so that schools will be able to effectively choose and utilize new tools safely, strategically, and beneficially as they emerge.

The Getting Down to Facts III research agenda was shaped through a dual process of deep community engagement and rigorous academic collaboration. Insights from the statewide Listening Tour—gathered through conversations with state and district leaders, educators, and advocates—surfaced urgent, on-the-ground priorities, such as access to quality instruction, safe and inclusive schools, and responsive governance. These findings were then synthesized alongside input from leading scholars and policy experts, ensuring the research agenda not only reflects the lived realities of Californians but also builds on the most current and relevant evidence base to answer the pressing questions California needs to lead.

Researchers

Coming soon.

 
Getting Down to Facts III Inaugural Convening - April 2025

Community Advisory Groups

To ensure the research reflects the lived experiences of Californians, Getting Down to Facts III has established three Community Advisory Groups—made up of students, families, and educators from across the state. These groups will help provide input that will inform data collection, interpret findings, and guide how results are shared.

Each group will meet virtually six times from August 2025 to April 2026 and receive a stipend for their participation.

Timeline

The project launched in February 2025. We will conduct research throughout the year and release technical reports and policy briefs in April 2026, followed by resources for policymakers, families, and educators in the spring and summer of 2026.

Contact Us

SCALE Initiative, Stanford University
Getting Down to Facts
520 Galvez Mall, CERAS Building 
Stanford, CA 94305 
Email: gettingdowntofacts@stanford.edu