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Report · June 2026

SGMA-Ready Crops as a Low-Water Alternative to Fallowing

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About PPIC

We provide data-driven, nonpartisan research and spark productive conversations to inspire policy solutions for California’s challenges.

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Report · June 2026

Employment Before, During, and After Prison in California

Broadening access to the labor market among released prisoners has long been a policy goal, but research in this area has been limited. This report looks at employment histories of Californians recently released from prison and finds that they have struggled to find work. Our findings also point to policies that could promote employment among this population.

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Jul 23
Event · July 23, 2026

The Future of Civic Engagement

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Blog Post · July 1, 2026

What California’s Next Governor Needs to Know about PK–12 Education

Recent Publications

All Topics Criminal Justice Economy Health & Safety Net Higher Education K–12 Education Political Landscape Population Statewide Survey Water, Land & Air
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Policy Brief · June 2026

Policy Brief: Lessons from California’s Early Literacy Policies

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Policy Brief · June 2026

Policy Brief: The Financial Viability and Broader Benefits of SGMA-Ready Crops

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Statewide Survey · May 2026

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

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Report · June 2026

Employment Before, During, and After Prison in California

photo - Inmates on Break
Policy Brief · June 2026

Policy Brief: Employment Before, During, and After Prison in California

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Report · April 2026

Understanding Trends in Law Enforcement Staffing

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Report · June 2026

Employment Before, During, and After Prison in California

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Policy Brief · June 2026

Policy Brief: Employment Before, During, and After Prison in California

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Report · May 2026

Tribal Water Rights in California

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Report · May 2026

Examining Trends in California’s Birth Rates

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Policy Brief · May 2026

Policy Brief: Examining Trends in California’s Birth Rates

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Fact Sheet · May 2026

California’s Nutrition Safety Net

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Fact Sheet · June 2026

Higher Education Funding in California

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Fact Sheet · April 2026

Wealth in California

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Explainer · April 2026

Is College Worth It?

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photo - Children Reading Together in Elementary Classroom during Collaborative Learning Activity
Policy Brief · June 2026

Policy Brief: Lessons from California’s Early Literacy Policies

photo - Mother Holding Newborn Baby at Hospital
Report · May 2026

Examining Trends in California’s Birth Rates

photo - Mother Holding Newborn Baby at Hospital
Policy Brief · May 2026

Policy Brief: Examining Trends in California’s Birth Rates

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Statewide Survey · May 2026

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

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Fact Sheet · May 2026

California’s Nutrition Safety Net

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Statewide Survey · April 2026

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Education

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photo - Mother Holding Newborn Baby at Hospital
Report · May 2026

Examining Trends in California’s Birth Rates

photo - Mother Holding Newborn Baby at Hospital
Policy Brief · May 2026

Policy Brief: Examining Trends in California’s Birth Rates

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Fact Sheet · May 2026

Tribal Water Rights and Water Use in California

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Statewide Survey · May 2026

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

photo - Row of School Lockers
Statewide Survey · April 2026

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Education

photo - California State Capitol
Statewide Survey · February 2026

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

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Report · June 2026

SGMA-Ready Crops as a Low-Water Alternative to Fallowing

photo- Farmer in Tractor
Policy Brief · June 2026

Policy Brief: The Financial Viability and Broader Benefits of SGMA-Ready Crops

photo - Woman Tying Tule Reeds by Water, water-ca-dwr-2025_07_25_AN_0169_Tule_Boat_Festival
Fact Sheet · May 2026

Tribal Water Rights and Water Use in California

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Blog Posts

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July 9, 2026

Shedding New Light on Employment After Prison in California

Mary Severance

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July 8, 2026

Fewer Participants Ease Medi-Cal Budget but Add to Growing Uninsured

Paulette Cha

photo - Elementary School Students Sitting at Desks in Classroom Taking a Test
July 1, 2026

What California’s Next Governor Needs to Know about PK–12 Education

Laura Hill, Julien Lafortune

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June 30, 2026

How Do County Registrars Think about California’s Election Certification Process?

Jennifer Paluch, Mary Severance

Events

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Jul 23
Upcoming

The Future of Civic Engagement

July 23, 2026 · 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm

Jul 28
Upcoming

SGMA-Ready Crops for the San Joaquin Valley

July 28, 2026 · 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Fact Sheets

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June 2026

Higher Education Funding in California

Kevin Cook, Valerie Lundy-Wagner

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May 2026

California’s Economy

Daniel Payares-Montoya, Sarah Bohn

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May 2026

California’s Nutrition Safety Net

Tess Thorman, Patricia Malagon

photo - Woman Tying Tule Reeds by Water, water-ca-dwr-2025_07_25_AN_0169_Tule_Boat_Festival
May 2026

Tribal Water Rights and Water Use in California

Brian Gray, Letitia Grenier

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Featured Explainer · April 2026

Is College Worth It?

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Fact Cards

Homicides in California have fallen to a 40-year low.
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33% The share of California workers who are immigrants.
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71% Californians are not satisfied with the way democracy is working in the United States.
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85% The percentage of eligible Californians who are registered to vote.
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1M Number of children safety net programs kept out of poverty.
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Enrollment has fallen in nearly two-thirds of California school districts.
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80% Share of California immigrants who are citizens or have legal residency status.
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Seven in ten Californians feel like their income is not keeping up with inflation.
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750K The number of Californians who lack access to safe and reliable drinking water.
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Most California businesses are small, and most Californians work for a small business.
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83% of California college students attend a public institution, with nearly half enrolled in the community college system.
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