Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Education By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek, Jui Shrestha Apr 27, 2011 Some findings of the current survey: Most Californians are very concerned that the state’s budget deficit will mean significant cuts to K–12 education. Six in ten adults and likely voters favor Governor Brown’s plan of spending cuts and temporary tax increases to close the deficit and avoid cuts to schools. More than half of public school parents say they have noticed reduced numbers of support staff or fewer programs at their child’s school. Job Approval Ratings: Governor Brown [PDF]California State Legislature [PDF] Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings: Governor Brown [XLS]California State Legislature [XLS] This survey was supported with funding from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Occasional Paper, Report Financing New School Construction and Modernization: Evidence from California By Kim Rueben, Eric J. Brunner Jun 1, 2001 Presented to the Finance & Facilities Working Group - K-12 Education, Joint Committee to Develop a Master Plan for Education - Kindergarten through University, June 28 2001.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: The Impact of COVID-19 on Science Education By Niu Gao, Mary Severance Jun 21, 2022 As California schools recover from the pandemic, policymakers can take steps to promote equitable investments in science literacy across the state.
Report School Resources and Academic Standards in California: Lessons from the Schoolhouse By Jon Sonstelie, Ray Reinhard, Heather Rose Jan 24, 2006 This report takes an in-depth look at a sample group of 49 schools in California to understand at a grassroots level the issues and problems of implementing academic standards, now a fact of life in the state for a decade. California faces particular challenges because it has more public school students than any other state, and has set its standards higher than any other state’s. Through in-depth interviews with school district superintendents and a survey of teachers, the authors found general support—mixed with relief, anxiety, and in some cases, grudging assent—and many suggestions for how standards might be implemented more efficiently and more equitably. School district superintendents were generally strongly supportive of the new standards-based regimen. A survey of more than 2,000 teachers also found general support, but also more ambivalence. Twelve percent of teachers considered the state’s standards too ambitious and therefore unachievable, while 39 percent characterized them as very difficult to achieve. The authors' financial analysis tends to confirm earlier findings that although the goals California has set for student achievement are high, the resources being provided to meet those goals are not.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Education By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek, Jui Shrestha Apr 17, 2013 Some findings of the current survey: A strong majority of Californians favor Governor Brown’s K–12 funding proposal, which would direct extra money to lower-income and English Learner students. Most Californians believe that targeting funds in this way will improve the academic achievement of disadvantaged students. An overwhelming majority also favor giving local school districts more flexibility over how state money is spent. Job Approval Ratings: Governor Brown [PDF] California State Legislature [PDF] Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings: Governor Brown [XLS] California State Legislature [XLS] This survey was supported with funding from The Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation, The Silver Giving Foundation, and the Stuart Foundation.
Report Building California’s Cradle-to-Career Data System By Jacob Jackson Apr 7, 2021 A yearlong collaboration among educational institutions, state agencies, advocates, and researchers has led to a plan for a statewide system that connects K–12, higher education, workforce, and social services data. This report outlines how this shared knowledge base can benefit California—and key considerations for ensuring the system’s long-term success.
Fact Sheet Californians and Early Childhood Education By Mark Baldassare, Lunna Lopes, Dean Bonner, David Kordus Apr 20, 2016
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Alyssa Dykman, Rachel Lawler Sep 16, 2020 Key findings from the current survey: A slim majority of likely voters support Proposition 15, which would change how commercial property is taxed. Well below half of likely voters support Proposition 16, which would repeal the state’s ban on affirmative action in the public sector. Joe Biden leads Donald Trump by a wide margin, with 60 percent of likely voters favoring Biden/Harris and 31 percent favoring Trump/Pence. Most Californians remain concerned about contracting COVID-19, but a slim majority believe the worst is behind us.
Report California’s Transition to the Common Core State Standards: The State’s Role in Local Capacity Building By Patrick Murphy, Paul Warren Apr 15, 2014 The Common Core State Standards are changing California classrooms. They are also altering the state’s role in K–12 education. This report compares California’s implementation strategy to those of other key states and outlines new ways for the California Department of Education to help districts improve student outcomes. This research is supported with funding from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund.
Report Pathways to Fluency: Examining the Link Between Language Reclassification Policies and Student Success By Julian Betts, Andrew C. Zau, Laura Hill, Karen Bachofer May 6, 2014 As California overhauls K–12 standards, testing, and funding, questions about how and when English Learner students should be reclassified as English proficient take on new urgency. This report looks at the links between reclassification policies and academic success in the state’s two largest school districts. This research was supported with funding from the Donald Bren Foundation and the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund.
