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Independent, objective, nonpartisan research
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K–12 Education

Evaluating resources and policies that improve student outcomes

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Policy Brief · May 2026

Policy Brief: Accelerating English Learner Progress by Improving Reclassification

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Statewide Survey · April 2026

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Education

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Report · January 2026

Teen Mental Health and School-Based Services in California

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Blog Posts

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photo - Elementary School Students Sitting at Tables in Classroom and Looking Up at the Teacher
May 13, 2026

Enrollment Is Falling across California’s School Districts

Julien Lafortune

photo - High School Students in Classroom and Listening to Teacher
May 12, 2026

As Elections Approach, Californians See Value in Civic Education

Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Mark Baldassare

photo - Elementary Student Wearing a Backpack
May 5, 2026

Who Are California’s Homeless K–12 Students?

Brett Guinan

photo - Row of School Lockers
April 23, 2026

A Briefing on PPIC’s Californians and Education Survey Paints a Mixed Picture

Mary Severance

photo - A Teacher and Young Student Looking a Book Together in Elementary School Classroom
April 8, 2026

Timing Is a Concern as Schools Seek to Identify Struggling Young Readers

Sarah Novicoff

photo - Young Girl Receiving Flu Shot from Doctor
April 2, 2026

School Vaccination Rates Vary across California

Shalini Mustala, Shannon McConville

photo - Rear View of Students in Classroom and Teacher Standing in Front of the Class
March 10, 2026

Commentary: Why Civic Education Matters Now More than Ever

Tani Cantil-Sakauye

Fact Sheet

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April 2026

College Readiness in California

Iwunze Ugo, Eric Assan

photo - Young Girl at Home on Computer Doing Homework
March 2026

California’s K–12 Test Scores

Iwunze Ugo, Eric Assan

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March 2026

Chronic Absenteeism in California

Brett Guinan, Laura Hill

photo - Kindergarten Friends Playing Together
January 2026

California’s K–12 Students

Beyond Deng, Laura Hill

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November 2025

Financing California’s Public Schools

Julien Lafortune, Brett Guinan

Video

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Transitional Kindergarten in California, Explained

image - Cal Civics Video

From Dog Parks to Democracy: How Does Government Work?

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Featured Blog Post · June 25, 2025

California’s Changing School Demographics

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Fact Cards

6% Share of federal dollars that fund California public schools.
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Enrollment has fallen in nearly three-quarters of California school districts.
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19% Share of California’s PK-12 students who were chronically absent in 2024-25.
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About 65% of eligible children have enrolled in transitional kindergarten.
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At $20,500 per student, California ranks 16th in spending per pupil.
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California ranks 16th in spending per pupil but drops to 31st when accounting for labor costs.
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Nearly 40% of California’s K-12 students are English Learners and former English Learners.
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49% and 37% of California students are meeting state standards in reading and math.
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Meet the Team

Beyond Deng

Research Associate

Email 415-291-4431
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Brett Guinan

Research Associate

Email 415-291-4448
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Laura Hill

Policy Director and Senior Fellow

Email 415-291-4424
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Julien Lafortune

Senior Fellow

Email 415-291-4473
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Tomas Lopez

Research Associate

Email 415-291-4471
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Sarah Novicoff

Research Fellow

Email 415-291-4485
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Iwunze Ugo

Research Fellow

Email 415-291-1122
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