OverviewThe CRC is an online platform developed by the CITRIS Data and Democracy Initiative at UC Berkeley and Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom that explores how smartphones and networks can enhance communication between the public and government leaders. The CRC allows visitors to grade issues facing California and to suggest issues for future report cards. The project aims to increase public engagement and to help leaders at all levels stay informed about the changing opinions and priorities of their constituents. Anyone can participate by taking a few minutes to assign grades to the State of California on issues such as: Healthcare, Education, Marriage Equality, Immigrant Rights, and Marijuana Decriminalization. We currently support responses in both English and Spanish. It is important to note that translation is an art form. All Google Translate results are reviewed and edited by fluent speakers but flaws are inevitable. If you spot an egregious error, please email translate@californiareportcard.org Q: What’s the motivation for the CRC?A: We’re exploring new models for exchange of information and engagement with political issues. We don’t claim the CRC model is the answer: it’s one new metaphor and mode of collecting information. Will the CRC encourage people to think about public issues and how public opinion gets represented? We’re curious to see how people respond, how patterns of responses change over time, and if the grading will be a catalyst for the discussion, where participants propose new issues for the next report card and evaluate the suggestions of other participants. We’ll keep working to develop new versions and models based on the responses and data.PrivacyComments and suggestions will be scanned to omit identifiable information. We respect your privacy and will not share your email address with third parties.Statistical SignificanceThe CRC differs from randomized telephone polls and surveys. Participation is self-selective and accessible so far only to English speakers with access to a smart phone or web browser. After you enter each grade, the Median Grade based on input from all previous participants is revealed. This is intended to provide instant feedback in contrast to traditional polls and surveys. We realize this may have a biasing effect: some may adjust their grade to be closer to the average resulting in a form of regression toward the mean. We will include details on the number of such adjustments and the before and after values in the open dataset. We will also present the grade data as histograms to convey levels of consensus and geographically to convey differences by region.We will also present the grade data as histograms to convey levels of consensus and geographically to convey differences by region.MorePlease see the CRC website for contact info, details about the project history, stats to date, related links, and to download anonymized data when it is available:California Report Card