W. Norton Grubb

Norton Grubb
W. Norton Grubb
Former David Pierpont Gardner Professor of Higher Education, Emeritus,
University of California, Berkeley

W. Norton Grubb was the David Pierpont Gardner Professor of Higher Education, Emeritus, at the University of California, Berkeley. His research examined the role of education in labor markets, the effectiveness of high schools and community colleges, and how educational institutions can reinforce or reduce societal inequities. He authored 14 books and numerous articles on education policy and was instrumental in establishing the Principal Leadership Institute at Berkeley to train principals for urban schools. He also played a key role in shaping policies on career and technical education and was a frequent consultant for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). His work influenced state and national discussions on linking education and workforce development. Grubb received the University of California, Berkeley, Chancellor’s Award for Advancing Institutional Excellence. Grubb earned his BA and PhD in economics from Harvard University.

updated 2025

Contributing topics
Access, quality & alignment in early childhood education
College access & postsecondary success
Continuous school improvement & support
Education finance
Educational governance & policy
Supporting students’ social-emotional, mental & physical health
Understanding, measuring & improving student outcomes
W. Norton Grubb in the Media
: How to Reform Remedial Education
Publications by W. Norton Grubb
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Basic Skills Instruction in Community Colleges
The Dominance of Remedial Pedagogy
This working paper examines the instructional triangle of basic skills education in California Community Colleges through classroom observations in 13 colleges. The study identifies the prevalence of remedial pedagogy, which relies on sub-skill…
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Understanding the 'Crisis' in Basic Skills
Framing the Issues in Community Colleges
This paper series addresses the issue of basic skills instruction in California Community Colleges. The problem is twofold: a high proportion of students enter college needing developmental courses, and these students are unlikely to move into…
PACEsetters at 25: Research Center Celebrates a Quarter Century as Leader in Legislative Policy Analysis
PACEsetters at 25
Research Center Celebrates a Quarter Century as Leader in Legislative Policy Analysis
The call for improved education persists annually within PACE, emphasizing the perpetual need for progress. Even with strides made, the organization does not consider its mission accomplished. Guided by three core principles—allocating resources to…
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Conditions of Education in California, 2008
PACE is bringing back its publication, Conditions of Education in California, to keep the focus on the long-term education reforms required by California. Six policy scholars have contributed to this edition, providing baseline data on school…