event A Conversation with US HHS Secretary Becerra and California HHS Secretary Ghaly Dec 1, 2022 Almost three years into the COVID-19 crisis, Californians are still grappling with its effects on everything from health to education to the economy. Join Mark Baldassare, PPIC’s president and CEO, along with Xavier Becerra, secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, and Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, in a wide-ranging conversation about what we learned from the pandemic and what we are doing to ensure greater resilience in the future.
Report COVID-19 Emergency Funding and California’s Higher Education Systems By Jacob Jackson, Kevin Cook, Darriya Starr Nov 16, 2022 Federal dollars offered timely, substantial support to the state’s higher education systems during the worst of the pandemic. Funding for students, online instruction, and social distancing measures made up key spending allocations.
blog post Voters’ Views on November’s Propositions By Mark Baldassare Oct 26, 2022 As we near the midterm election, voters’ attitudes toward key statewide ballot measures, as well as toward potential reforms to the initiative process, suggest that California’s system of direct democracy remains a work in progress.
Report Solar Energy and Groundwater in the San Joaquin Valley By Andrew Ayres, Annabelle Rosser, Ellen Hanak, Alvar Escriva-Bou ... Oct 25, 2022 Hundreds of thousands of acres of irrigated farmland may come out of production in the San Joaquin Valley in coming decades. At the same time, the state needs to ramp up renewable energy generation to meet climate goals. Could solar development on fallowed land help the valley’s residents? Our new report examines the challenges and opportunities.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and the Environment By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas Jul 27, 2022 Key findings include: Three in ten Californians name water supply and drought as the state’s top environmental issue; nearly seven in ten say the water supply is a big problem in their part of the state. More than half of Californians say higher gas prices have caused financial hardship, and more than four in ten are upset about the current rate of inflation. Most Californians oppose offshore drilling, and an overwhelming majority want to prioritize alternative energy over oil, coal, and natural gas. But views are divided along party lines. Democrats are much more likely than independents and Republicans to support key state climate change policies.
blog post Video: Understanding the Effects of School Funding By Stephanie Barton Jun 3, 2022 Flush with state and federal dollars for K–12 schools, California has surpassed the national average in school spending. Does more funding lead to better student outcomes?
Report Understanding the Effects of School Funding By Julien Lafortune May 18, 2022 Funding for California’s K–12 public schools has reached record highs, but gaps in student outcomes remain. Understanding the benefits of additional funds, and how to distribute those funds, are key concerns for policymakers. This report offers insights from a robust body of research on the extent to which higher spending improves outcomes.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: Understanding the Effects of School Funding By Julien Lafortune, Stephanie Barton May 18, 2022 A wide body of recent research offers insights into how and where additional dollars to fund K–12 public schools can improve student outcomes such as test scores and graduation rates. Estimates also reveal how long it may take to close gaps by race and income, based on current trends in funding.
event Setting the Stage for Universal Preschool May 12, 2022 As the state expands its Transitional Kindergarten program, one key issue is whether access will be equitable. PPIC researcher Emmanuel Prunty will present findings from a new report examining current participation in the program across diverse student groups and districts, and a panel of experts will discuss ways to ensure an equitable expansion toward the goal of closing gaps in school readiness.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Education By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas Apr 27, 2022 More than four in ten parents say their children have fallen behind academically during the pandemic. While most Californians approve of the way Governor Newsom is handling public K–12 education, many believe its quality has declined over the past few years.
