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The PPIC Statewide Survey delivers nonpartisan, objective, advocacy-free information on the perceptions, opinions, and public policy preferences of California residents. PPIC invites input, comments, and suggestions from policy and public opinion experts and from its own advisory committee, but survey methods, questions, and content are determined solely by the PPIC survey team. The PPIC Statewide Survey relies on a rigorous survey methodology and is a charter member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research Transparency Initiative. The survey is conducted regularly throughout the year in the key areas of government, the environment, K-12 education, and higher education. Key findings from the current survey include: (1) More than eight in ten Californians think K-12 students are falling behind academically during the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) Most Californians approve of Governor Newsom's handling of the K-12 education system; most also approve of the way he is handling school reopening; (3) Most say that the state's public schools should be at least partially open now, and six in ten are concerned that schools will not be open for full-time in-person instruction this fall; and (4) Majorities say their local public schools do an excellent or good job of preparing students for college and for the workforce, but four in ten parents would opt for private school if cost and location were not at issue. [For the accompanying survey methodology report, see ED618123.]

Key findings from the current survey: (1) Most Californians say charter schools are an important option for parents in low-income areas--but many express concern that charters divert funding from traditional public schools; (2) More than half of residents across regions say teacher salaries in their community are too low; and (3) Majorities support Governor Newsom's spending plans to expand preschool and full-day kindergarten. The PPIC Statewide Survey delivers objective, advocacy-free information on the perceptions, opinions, and public policy preferences of California residents. PPIC invites input, comments, and suggestions from policy and public opinion experts and from its own advisory committee, but survey methods, questions, and content are determined solely by the PPIC survey team. The PPIC Statewide Survey relies on a rigorous survey methodology and is a charter member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research Transparency Initiative. The survey is conducted regularly throughout the year in the key areas of government, the environment, K-12 education, and higher education.

The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) Statewide Survey delivers objective, advocacy-free information on the perceptions, opinions, and public policy preferences of California residents. PPIC invites input, comments, and suggestions from policy and public opinion experts and from its own advisory committee, but survey methods, questions, and content are determined solely by the PPIC survey team. The PPIC Statewide Survey relies on a rigorous survey methodology and is a charter member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research Transparency Initiative. The survey is conducted regularly throughout the year in the key areas of government, the environment, K-12 education, and higher education. Among the key findings are: (1) Most Californians (58%) say overall affordability is a big problem, and an additional 25 percent say it is somewhat of a problem; (2) Majorities of adults (56%) and likely voters (57%) say the level of state funding for public higher education is not sufficient; (3) Solid majorities of adults rate the three segments of the public higher education system as good to excellent: 68 percent for the California Community Colleges, 66 percent for California State University, and 68 percent for University of California; (4) Half of Californians (53%) say students from low-income families have less opportunity than others; and (5) Large majorities of adults (77%) say that the state's public colleges and universities should give priority to local students from their regions of the state when making enrollment decisions.

The PPIC (Public Policy Institute of California) Statewide Survey provides a voice for the public and likely voters--informing policymakers, encouraging discussion, and raising awareness on critical issues of the day. This 14th annual survey involved interviewing 1,704 California adults between March 25-April 3, 2018. Findings include: (1) Most Californians are concerned about impact of immigration enforcement; (2) A majority of likely voters say state funding for public schools is inadequate; (3) Half of likely voters approve of the way Governor Jerry Brown is handling his job; (4) More than two-thirds of Californians say they have heard nothing about the governor's proposed budget, which fully funds the Local Control Funding Formula; (5) Most public school parents give their local schools grades of A or B when asked to rate their quality; and (6) A majority of Californians and public school parents say they are very concerned or somewhat concerned about the threat of mass shooting in their local schools.

The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) Statewide Survey series provides policymakers, the media, and the public with objective, advocacy-free information on the perceptions, opinions, and public policy preferences of California residents. Inaugurated in April 1998, this is the 116th PPIC Statewide Survey in a series that has generated a database of responses of more than 246,000 Californians. This survey is conducted with funding from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Its goal is to inform state policymakers, encourage discussion, and raise public awareness about K-12 public education issues; this is the seventh annual PPIC Statewide Survey since 2005 to focus on this topic. California also has a highly diverse student population: more than half are economically disadvantaged (55%), a quarter are English learners (24%), and 11 percent have developmental, physical, emotional, or learning disabilities. Latinos (50%) make up the largest racial/ethnic group of students, followed by whites (27%), Asians (12%), and blacks (7%). This year's survey measures perceptions of the ongoing toll that the economic downturn and the state's budget situation are taking on California's K-12 system, which is the largest portion of the state budget, consuming about 40 percent of general fund spending. Governor Brown has proposed sparing K-12 from cuts in fiscal 2011-12 if voters approve temporary tax and fee increases. But if this tax and fee proposal never makes it to the ballot or if voters reject it, K-12 education will face significant funding reductions. Schools have already been grappling with reduced funding levels. Recent studies of school administrators and principals reflect ongoing teacher and staff layoffs, increased class sizes, a shortened school year, program cuts, and deferred maintenance. This report presents the responses of 2,504 California adult residents on the following topics: (1) General perceptions, including opinions of educational quality in California's K-12 public schools; approval ratings of the governor and legislature overall and on their handling of K-12 education; perceived rankings of California's per pupil spending and student test scores; concerns about students and schools in lower-income areas; perceptions of their local public schools; and opinions of public school parents about their children's schools; (2) Fiscal attitudes and policy preferences, including concerns about the budget situation and some of the specific ways schools are dealing with decreased funding levels; attitudes toward other ideas for cutting spending; preferences for raising state revenues to maintain current K-12 funding; preferences for raising revenues for local public schools; and attitudes toward a special election; and (3) Time trends, national comparisons, and variations in perceptions, attitudes, and preferences across racial/ethnic groups (Asians, blacks, Latinos, and non-Hispanic whites), across five major regions of the state (Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles County, Inland Empire, and Orange/San Diego Counties), across socioeconomic and political groups, and among parents of children attending public schools.

This edition of the PPIC (Public Policy Institute of California) Statewide Survey is the fourth in a series of surveys funded by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation focusing on higher education. This survey seeks to inform state policymakers, encourage discussion, and raise public awareness about the state's public higher education system--the state's third largest area of spending. Findings are based on the responses of 2,502 California adults, interviewed in multiple languages on landline and cell phones. Some findings of the current survey are: (1) About three-fourths of Californians say state funding for public higher education is inadequate; (2) Most Californians favor more money for higher education even at the expense of other state programs; (3) Almost 60 percent of all parents--and 72 percent of Latino parents--are very worried about paying for college; and (4) Most Californians say the state's three college systems are doing a good or excellent job.

This edition of the PPIC (Public Policy Institute of California) Statewide Survey is the sixth in a series of surveys funded by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation focusing on K-12 education issues. Its goal is to inform state policymakers, encourage discussion, and raise public awareness about a variety of K-12, higher education, environment, and population issues. Findings are based on a survey of 2,504 California adult residents. Some findings of the current survey are: (1) 62 percent of Californians are very concerned the state budget gap will cause significant spending cuts in K-12 education; (2) Three-fourths (74%) of Californians say that improving education should be a high priority for the next governor; and (3) Governor Schwarzenegger's job approval rating of 24 percent matches his record low, while President Obama's approval rating stands at 61 percent.