California voters will make many decisions this year that will affect the state’s public schools. In addition to gauging voter preferences in key primary races, PPIC’s latest survey tracks views of the TK–12 system. At a virtual briefing last week, survey analyst Deja Thomas outlined key findings and answered audience questions.

While polling was conducted before Democrat Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign for governor, the results show that the gubernatorial primary race is tight, with support ranging from 10% and 18% for the top five candidates. “We haven’t had a governor’s primary this uncertain at this point in the primary season before,” said Thomas.

More than eight in ten likely voters across party lines say the gubernatorial candidates’ positions on TK–12 public education are important. While more than half approve of Governor Newsom’s handling of TK–12 education, only 8% say the quality of education in California’s public schools has improved in recent years, while half say it has worsened—and over half believe the public system needs major changes.

By contrast, majorities say local public schools are doing a good or an excellent job of preparing students for college and the workforce. Asked whether this relatively positive view clashes with pessimism about the system as a whole, Thomas explained that looking at regional breakdowns helps explain the contrast. “For example, Central Valley and Inland Empire residents were the most likely among regional groups to say the quality of the state education system has gotten worse, and they’re also the least likely to say their schools are doing at least a good job of preparing students for college and the workforce.”

There is solid support for teachers’ unions and universal transitional kindergarten, and most likely voters are supportive of a measure that would extend a temporary tax on high earners to fund schools and health care. But responses to a question about the biggest issue facing public schools suggest that Californians are worried about the impact of technology: “Concern about technology and access to technology has risen from previous years,” Thomas said.

Nine in ten parents support restrictions on cell phone use in schools, and only 14% of Californians think that artificial intelligence will have a positive impact on schools over the next decade. “Half of adults and a plurality of public school parents think it will have a negative impact,” said Thomas. “Hopefully we can ask more questions about this in the future.”