California made incremental gains in boosting student graduation rates, reducing chronic absenteeism and seeing more students ready for college or careers, according to newly released state data. But the state's slow progress means the majority of California's students may not reach proficiency in English Language Arts and math for many years. "At the current pace of progress it will take many, many more decades and leave behind multiple generations of students," said Melissa Valenzuela-Stookey, the director of P-16 research at EdTrust-West, an educational advocacy nonprofit.