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At every stage and every age, Californians are still learning. Millions of working adults across California are considering whether to enroll in postsecondary training and education. Despite knowing what they want, they face the same problem: Our current system asks them to find education that delivers the most value but gives too few options that actually fit their lives.
New research from Gallup and ideas42 offers a clearer picture of how learners make postsecondary decisions—and surfaces lessons that extend well beyond California.
In this webinar, Zach Hrynowski, senior education researcher at Gallup, Cassie Taylor, managing director at ideas42, and Amanda DeLaRosa, director of program & strategy at College Futures Foundation, will kick off California Working Learner Week by sharing new findings grounded in rigorous research and behavioral science, and exploring what they reveal about how higher education leaders, funders and policymakers can build a system that delivers greater value for today’s learners, in California and across the country.
The webinar will explore:
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Thursday, October 8, 2026 | 11am PST / 2pm EST
Learners Know What They Value: Shaping Choice & Possibility
SPEAKERS
Zachary Hrynowski
Senior Education Researcher at Gallup
MODERATOR
Amanda DeLaRosa
Director of Program and Strategy at the College Futures Foundation
Amanda DelaRosa plays a key leadership role as director of program and strategy at the College Futures Foundation. Previously, Amanda was strategy officer for state policy at Lumina Foundation. Prior to that, she held the position of chief of staff for the Colorado Department of Higher Education, policy specialist for the National Conference of State Legislatures, and policy and advocacy manager at Scholarship America. Her career and commitment to student success began as legislative director at the University of California Student Association. She brings extensive experience in the public, nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Amanda received her master’s in public administration from the University of Colorado, Denver and her bachelor of arts in politics and sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Cassie Taylor
Managing Director at ideas42