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tional public schools.”
Following the March passage of Senate
Bill 126, which requires more transparency
in charter school operations, nine in 10
adults say it is very or somewhat import-
ant for charter schools to operate with the
same transparency and accountability as
traditional public schools.
Most want governor to make K–12
education a priority
Three-quarters of Californians (75%
adults, 76% of likely voters) say Gov.
Gavin Newsom should place a very high
priority or a high priority on the state’s
K–12 public education system. At least
seven in 10 adults across all regions and
across age, education, income, and racial/
ethnic groups say K–12 should be a high
or very high priority. Most Californians
(55% adults, 60% likely voters) would
like Newsom to change to different K–12
policies, rather than continue those of his
predecessor, Jerry Brown. Solid majorities
of Republicans (77%) and independents
(61%) want a change, compared to less
than half of Democrats (46%).
Majorities of Californians support
Newsom’s K–12 budget proposals to allo-
cate $3 billion in one-time spending to
pay down the California State Teachers’
Retirement System’s unfunded liabilities
(58% of adults approving) and provide
$576 million to expand special education
services and programs (70%). However,
Democrats and independents are more
likely than Republicans to approve.
“Most Californians say Governor
Newsom should place a high priority on
K–12 public education, but there are deep
partisan divides on whether new policies
are needed and which ones,” Baldassare
said.
Most support governor’s preschool
and kindergarten proposals
Asked how important preschool is to
academic success, an overwhelming major-
ity of adults say it is either very important
(46%) or somewhat important (32%).
Solid majorities of adults (63%) and public
school parents (81%) think the state should
fund voluntary preschool for all 4-year-
olds.
In his proposed budget, Newsom allo-
cates $125 million to expand full-day, full-
year preschool to all eligible low-income
4-year-olds and $750 million in one-time
funds to increase full-day kindergarten
programs. Both proposals are favored by
majorities of Californians, with 64 percent
supporting the preschool spending plan
and 65 percent supporting the kindergar-
ten proposal. As with the K–12 proposals
noted above, Democrats and indepen-
dents are more likely than Republicans to
approve.
“Early childhood education is important
to most Californians, and solid majorities
support the governor’s spending plans to
expand preschool and full-day kindergar-
ten,” Baldassare said.
Solid majorities support teachers’
strikes for higher pay
As teachers in multiple school districts
across the state have gone on strike seeking
higher pay, 61 percent of adults and 58
percent of public school parents say teach-
ers’ salaries in their community are too
low. Solid majorities in the San Francisco
Bay Area (70% of adults) and Los Angeles
(65%) hold this view, as do more than
half of adults in the Inland Empire (58%),
Central Valley (53%), and Orange/San
Diego (53%). Solid majorities approve of
public school teachers striking for higher
pay (61% adults, 70% public school par-
ents). At least half of adults in all regions
approve, with Los Angeles (70%) and the
San Francisco Bay Area (62%) expressing
the highest levels of support.
Nearly half of adults (48%) and a
majority of public school parents (57%)
say a teacher shortage is currently a big
problem in California’s K–12 schools. Far
fewer Californians (31%) and public school
parents (32%) believe that teacher quality
is a big problem.
“Majorities say that teachers’ salaries
are too low and that they support teachers’
striking for more pay,” Baldassare said.
“Californians are more concerned about
teacher shortages than quality.”
Most support ‘split roll’ property
tax, bond measure to fund schools
A ballot measure eligible for the 2020
ballot would amend Proposition 13 to tax
commercial (but not residential) proper-
ties at their current market rate, creating
a “split roll” property tax system. Asked
about a potential ballot measure that
would make this change and direct some
of the new revenue to K–12 public schools,
majorities of adults (56%) and likely voters
(54%) approve. In PPIC’s January survey,
which did not mention directing the rev-
Top 5 Issues Facing Education
Respondents in the Public Policy Institute of California’s survey were asked to name
the biggest issue facing the state’s K-12 schools. Here’s the top five answers and the
percentage of respondents who chose that issue.
Issue Adults Public School Parents
Lack of funding 18% 25%
Large class sizes 11% 16%
Standards/quality of education
10%
7%
Limited/poor curriculum 9% 9%
Low teacher pay 5% 1%
enue to any specific purpose, 47 percent
of adults and 49 percent of likely voters
approved.
Today, most adults (62%) and likely
voters (57%) say they would vote yes on a
state bond measure to pay for school con-
struction projects. However, when asked
about a state ballot measure that would
lower the threshold — from two-thirds
to 55 percent — for passing local parcel
taxes for public schools, less than half of
Californians (44% adults, 39% likely vot-
ers) approve.
“Majorities of California likely voters
favor a state bond and higher taxes on
commercial properties to raise school reve-
nues, while lowering the local tax threshold
receives less support,” Baldassare said.
Parents value college, worry about
affordability
Asked to name the most important
goal for California’s K–12 public schools,
roughly a quarter of all adults say teaching
students life skills (26%), and a quarter
say preparing students for college (24%).
Among public school parents, however, 44
percent say preparing students for college
is the most important goal.
An overwhelming majority of parents
want their youngest child to get a college
degree. Nearly one-half of California par-
ents (46%) say they hope their youngest
child obtains a graduate degree after col-
lege, and another third (33%) hope their
youngest child attains at least a four-year
college degree. However, a strong major-
ity say they are either very worried (45%)
or somewhat worried (34%) about being
able to afford a college education for their
youngest child.
“Many parents say that the goal of
K–12 public education should be college
and, while most want their children to go
to college, they worry about being able to
afford the costs,” Baldassare said.
More key findings
• Californians are concerned about col-
lege readiness for students in low-income
areas. Many adults (43%) and public school
parents (56%) say they are very concerned
that students in low-income areas are less
likely than other students to be ready for
college when they finish high school.
• Many worry about federal immigra-
tion enforcement’s effect on students.
Solid majorities of Californians (61%
adults, 71% public school parents) are
either very concerned or somewhat con-
cerned that increased federal immigration
enforcement efforts will affect undocu-
mented students and their families in their
local public schools.
• Possibility of mass shooting at local
schools causes widespread concern. More
than two-thirds of Californians (70%
adults, 80% public school parents) are very
concerned or somewhat concerned about a
shooting in their local schools.
• Opinions are mixed on local revenue
measures to support public schools.
A majority of adults (60%) and likely vot-
ers (56%) would vote yes on a local bond
measure for school construction. However,
support for a potential local parcel tax for
public schools is below the two-thirds
threshold needed to pass (46% adults, 44%
likely voters).
• Most support Common Core and the
state’s K–12 school funding formula.
Majorities of Californians approve of the
Common Core State Standards (51%
adults, 70% public school parents) and the
Local Control Funding Formula (67%
adults, 77% public school parents).
CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS
SEPTEMBER 25-27, 2019 | PASÉA HOTEL & SPA | HUNTINGTON BEACH
Courageous Leadership – Elevating Hearts & Minds
The Association of California School Administrators, National
Association of School Superintendents and the School
Superintendents Association invite you to submit a proposal to
present at the 2019 Women’s Leadership Forum.
ACSA in partnership with AASA work to create a yearly women’s
leadership event to support the advancement of women leaders by
focusing on professional and personal growth and development.
Presentations will either be on September 26 or 27, (the 25th is an
evening Welcome Reception). Main presenter must be an ACSA,
NASS or AASA member. No sales presentations will be accepted.
Registration is required for presenters and co-presenters and
a reduced rate will be offered to those selected to present.
PROPOSALS ARE DUE JULY 12, 2019.
The theme for 2019 is Courageous Leadership - Elevating Hearts and
Minds. We ask that your proposal fit into the following topic strands:
n Collective Efficacy
n Courageous Conversations
n Mindful Leadership for Women
n Leading for Equity & Action
n Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement
n Coaching and Mentoring
SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FORUM: acsa.org/womensforum