Key Findings
Californians will make decisions at the ballot box this year with lasting impacts on the state’s education system. While California’s public school system is making progress through universal transitional kindergarten and dual enrollment in high schools, there are continuing problems with K–12 student test scores, declining school enrollment, and chronic absenteeism. The cost of living in California has also surfaced as an issue as public school teachers strike for higher pay. The actions of the Trump administration are creating uncertainties about federal funding and education policies as well as concerns about the impacts of increased immigration enforcement on students and their families.
These are the key findings of the Californians and Education survey on the 2026 election, state policy direction, local public schools, and transitional kindergarten that was conducted March 26–April 3, 2026:
- In our polling conducted before Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign, five gubernatorial candidates have double-digit support in the top-two June primary: Eric Swalwell (D), Steve Hilton (R), Chad Bianco (R), Tom Steyer (D), and Katie Porter (D). Five Democratic candidates have less than 10 percent support: Xavier Becerra, Matt Mahan, Antonio Villaraigosa, Betty Yee, and Tony Thurmond. Overwhelming majorities across partisan and demographic groups and state regions say that the gubernatorial candidates’ positions on TK–12 public education are important to them. None of the 10 candidates for state superintendent of public instruction have 10 percent support, and 32 percent of likely voters are undecided. Forty-five percent of likely voters are interested in having a series of town halls and debates with the candidates for state superintendent of public instruction.
- Sixty-two percent of likely voters would vote yes on a citizens’ initiative to extend existing taxes on high incomes to provide permanent funding for education and health care. Thirty-nine percent would vote yes on a citizens’ initiative that limits voters’ ability to raise revenues for local government services.
Forty-seven percent of Californians think the state’s TK–12 public education system is headed in the right direction. Half say the quality of education has gotten worse in the past few years and believe that major changes are needed in California’s public schools. Six in ten choose teaching students the basics of academics and life skills as the most important goals of California’s public schools. Fifty-four percent of Californians approve of the way that Governor Newsom is handling the state’s TK–12 public education system. Forty-three percent are in favor of the governor’s proposal to remove the state superintendent of public instruction as the head of the California Department of Education and have the appointed State Board of Education run the California Department of Education.
Most Californians and public school parents give their local public schools passing grades. About half of adults think their local public schools are doing an excellent or good job in preparing students for jobs and the workforce. Forty-nine percent of Californians say that teachers’ salaries as compared to their cost of living are a big problem, and 61 percent support public school teachers striking for higher pay. Six in ten are concerned about declining school enrollment and chronic absenteeism in their local public schools. Sixty-seven percent are concerned about the impacts of increased immigration enforcement efforts on undocumented students and their families.- Sixty-eight percent of Californians are in favor of state-funded universal transitional kindergarten for all four-year-olds in California. Overwhelming majorities of adults and public school parents think that attending transitional kindergarten is important to a student’s success in grades K–12. Four in ten adults and six in ten public school parents think their local schools have raised awareness about the availability and benefits of transitional kindergarten. Majorities of adults and seven in ten public school parents say their local schools have facilities that are appropriate for the developmental needs of four-year-olds in transitional kindergarten.
Most Californians and public school parents give their local public schools passing grades. About half of adults think their local public schools are doing an excellent or good job in preparing students for jobs and the workforce. Forty-nine percent of Californians say that teachers’ salaries as compared to their cost of living are a big problem, and 61 percent support public school teachers striking for higher pay. Six in ten are concerned about declining school enrollment and chronic absenteeism in their local public schools. Sixty-seven percent are concerned about the impacts of increased immigration enforcement efforts on undocumented students and their families.2026 Elections
California voters will soon be mailed their June 2 primary ballots, and the choices they make will determine the top two candidates running for every statewide office in the November 3 general election. State leadership in education policy for the next four years will be on the ballot, with no incumbents and many candidates running for governor and the state superintendent of public instruction. Some voters will decide the fate of local ballot measures affecting their school districts in the June primary, and it seems likely that California voters will weigh in on state ballot initiatives that impact education funding and policies in the fall.
Gubernatorial primary. In our polling conducted before Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign, five candidates in the top-two governor’s primary have double-digit support among likely voters: Eric Swalwell (D), Steve Hilton (R), Chad Bianco (R), Tom Steyer (D), and Katie Porter (D). There are five Democratic candidates with less than 10 percent support, including Xavier Becerra (5%), Matt Mahan (5%), Antonio Villaraigosa (5%), Betty Yee (3%), and Tony Thurmond (2%), and 5 percent of likely voters are undecided. Six in ten Democrats support three Democratic candidates (29% Swalwell, 20% Steyer, 12% Porter), and eight in ten Republicans support two Republican candidates (46% Hilton, 37% Bianco). About two in three liberals support three Democratic candidates (30% Swalwell, 21% Steyer, 17% Porter) while eight in ten conservatives support two Republican candidates (45% Hilton, 35% Bianco). Since our February survey, support for Swalwell (11% to 18%) has increased the most among the top candidates. Since our December survey, support for Porter (21% to 10%) has declined the most among the top candidates.
In thinking about the 2026 governor’s election, 84 percent of likely voters say that the candidates’ positions on TK–12 public education are important (40% very, 44% somewhat) while just 15 percent say this is not too important to them. Overwhelming majorities across partisan and demographic groups and regions say the gubernatorial candidates’ positions on TK–12 public education are important. Majorities of likely voters with incomes under $40,000 (54%), who have children in the household (52%), and who are ages 18 to 34 (51%) say this is very important. Shares who said the gubernatorial candidates’ positions on K–12 public education were very important were higher in our April 2022 survey (51%), April 2018 survey (64%), April 2014 survey (58%), and April 2010 survey (62%).
State superintendent of public instruction. None of the 10 candidates in the nonpartisan race for state superintendent of public instruction has 10 percent support from likely voters, while 32 percent are undecided. One candidate has double-digit support among Democratic likely voters (15% Rendon), and two candidates have double-digit support among Republican likely voters (12% Shaw, 11% Newman); one candidate (20% Long) has double-digit support among independent likely voters. Sizable shares of likely voters are undecided across partisan groups (32% Democrat, 31% Republican, 30% independent) and state regions (23% Los Angeles, 28% Central Valley, 31% Orange/San Diego, 36% San Francisco Bay Area, 40% Inland Empire) and also across age, education, gender, and income groups.
Forty-five percent of likely voters say that they are interested (13% very, 32% somewhat) in having a series of town halls and debates with the candidates for state superintendent of public instruction (33% not too, 21% not at all interested). Four in ten or more across regions and partisan groups (47% Democrat, 46% Republican, 41% independent), as well as those who are undecided in this race (43%) are interested in having a series of town halls and debates with the candidates.
Local and state ballot measures. There will be local school bonds and parcel tax measures on both the June and November ballots. There are no state propositions on the primary ballot, but there may be legislative ballot measures and citizens’ initiatives on the November ballot with consequences for education funding and policy. This is in the context of 47 percent of likely voters saying the current level of state funding is “not enough” for their local public schools (19% more than, 31% just enough). Pluralities across demographic groups and state regions hold the view that there is not enough funding, while partisans hold differing opinions.
Still, the share of likely voters who would vote yes (46%) on a local school bond measure falls short of the 55 percent majority needed to pass. The vote threshold for local school bonds among partisan groups is reached among Democrats (62%) but support is much lower among Republicans (18%) or independents (48%), and support falls short of 55 percent across state regions. The share of likely voters who say they would vote yes (40%) on a local parcel tax for local public school funding falls far short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass this local special tax. Support for parcel taxes is below this threshold across partisan and demographic groups and regions.
We also asked about state propositions related to education that might be on the November ballot. Forty-six percent of likely voters would vote yes on a state bond to pay for construction projects in public higher education. Regarding the proposed citizens’ initiatives, 39 percent would vote yes on a measure titled “Limits Ability of Voters to Raise Revenues for Local Government Services,” 24 percent would vote yes on a measure titled “Requires State Provide Annual Payments to Students Attending Religious or Other Private Schools,” and 81 percent would vote yes on a measure titled “Child Safety Requirement for Artificial Intelligence Products. Prohibits Smartphones in Schools.” Sixty-two percent would vote yes on a measure titled “Provides Permanent Funding for Schools and Healthcare by extending Existing Tax on High Incomes,” with partisans divided and majority support across demographic groups and regions.
State Policy Direction and Approval Ratings
Californians are divided over the direction of the state’s public education system (47% right direction, 47% wrong direction); a majority of public school parents (57%) say the system is headed in the right direction. Californians have been divided on this issue for the past few years. Californians most often name a lack of funding (11%) or concerns about quality (10%) as the most important issue facing the state’s TK–12 public schools today—and views are similar among public school parents. When asked about the most important goal for California’s public schools, nearly four in ten (37%) say it is teaching students the basics and two in ten say it is teaching students life skills (22%), compared to fewer who say it is preparing students to go to college (14%), to be engaged citizens (12%), or to join the workforce (10%).
More than eight in ten adults and public school parents say that the quality of education in California’s TK–12 public schools is a problem, including more than three in ten who say it is a big problem (37% adults, 32% public school parents). These shares were similar a year ago. Half of adults (51%) and fewer public school parents (43%) say the quality of education in California’s public schools has gotten worse; four in ten or fewer say it has stayed the same (37% adults, 41% public school parents), and one in ten say it has improved (8% adults, 14% public school parents). While shares are similar to a year ago, about half or more of adults have said it has gotten worse since 2023. Most adults and public school parents say the state’s public education system is in need of change, including a majority of adults and nearly half of public school parents who say it is in need of major changes. Across most demographic groups and regions, about half or more say major changes are needed.
California ranked 17th out of the 50 states in per student expenditures for K–12 public education, according to the National Educational Association’s Ranking and Estimates report. Asked where they think the state currently ranks in per pupil spending for TK–12 public schools, California adults are most likely to say it is average (29%). About four in ten say it is near the top (16%) or above average (26%), and fewer say it is near the bottom (7%) or below average (19%). The share saying average is lower today than in recent years, when nearly four in ten have said it is average.
With the primary election for state superintendent of public instruction approaching, about half of adults (47%) and likely voters (50%) oppose the governor’s proposal to remove the elected state superintendent as the head of the California Department of Education and have the appointed State Board of Education run the department starting in January 2027. About half of public school parents are in favor of this proposal (51% favor, 43% oppose).
California passed AB 1955, the SAFETY Act, in 2024, which bans schools from requiring school staff to disclose a student’s gender identity or sexual orientation to any other person without the child’s permission. While in early March the US Supreme Court reinstated a ruling that requires schools to inform parents of changes to their children’s gender identity, majorities of California adults (57%) and public school parents (59%) say AB 1955 is a good thing. There is a partisan divide on this issue, with majorities of Democrats (76%) and independents (52%) but just a quarter of Republicans (26%) in favor.
In 2024, California also passed AB 3216, the Phone-Free School Act, which requires every school district, charter school, and county office of education to develop a policy limiting or prohibiting student use of cellphones or smartphones by July 1 of this year. Fifty-two percent of parents with school-aged children say they prefer a policy that allows no cellphone usage in classes but permits use at lunch or between classes, while four in ten say they prefer a ban on cellphone usage throughout the school day, and far fewer prefer to allow students to use cellphones at any point in the day and especially to assist in their studies. Opinions among public school parents are similar.
Majorities of adults and public school parents approve of the way Governor Gavin Newsom is handling California’s TK–12 public education system. Half or more adults have approved since PPIC began asking this question in 2019. Today, majorities across regions approve, with the exception of Central Valley residents. More than four in ten across demographic groups approve.
When it comes to the state legislature, half of Californians and six in ten public school parents approve. Approval among adults has remained at about half since 2024 (48%). Today, about four in ten or more across demographic and regional groups approve, except for Central Valley residents (44%), those 55 and over (44%), those with some college education (44%), and white residents (43%).
As Tony Thurmond nears the end of his eighth year as state superintendent of public instruction, Californians are divided over the way he has handled the state’s TK–12 public education system. Nearly half approve (47% approve, 45% disapprove); a majority of public school parents approve. Around half of adults overall have expressed approval since 2024, when we first asked this question.
Local Public Schools
When asked to rate the quality of their local public schools using a letter grade, about two in three adults and public school parents assign a B (32% adults, 36% public school parents) or a C (35% adults, 30% public school parents). Fewer give an A (11% adults, 17% public school parents), while about one in five say D (11% adults, 8% public school parents) or F (7% adults, 7% public school parents).
Today, majorities of adults and public school parents say their local public schools are doing an excellent or good job preparing students for college (adults: 10% excellent, 47% good; public school parents: 15% excellent, 52% good). Asian Americans (66%) are more likely to hold this view than Latinos (57%), whites (53%), and African Americans (52%). While majorities across all regions share this opinion, the highest levels of confidence are in Orange/San Diego. When asked how local public schools are doing in preparing students for jobs and the workforce, about half of adults (6% excellent, 42% good) and six in ten public school parents (10% excellent, 49% good) express positive opinions. Today, views vary slightly across demographic groups and regions, with Asian Americans (60%) and college graduates (58%) being the most positive.
Nearly all adults and public school parents say that a shortage of teachers is at least somewhat of a problem (adults: 49% big problem, 38% somewhat; public school parents: 49% big, 37% somewhat). Fewer than half of residents in the Central Valley and Orange/San Diego (46% each) consider teacher shortages a big problem, compared to majorities in other regions. Overwhelming majorities across political parties and demographic groups say teacher shortages are at least somewhat of a problem. Far fewer say that teacher quality is a big problem (32% adults and public school parents), while almost half say it is somewhat of a problem (49% adults and public school parents). Fewer than four in ten across parties, regions, and demographic groups consider teacher quality a big problem.
Overwhelming majorities of Californians also say that teacher salaries, relative to the cost of living, are a problem (adults: 49% big, 36% somewhat; public school parents: 50% big, 38% somewhat). Residents of the San Francisco Bay Area (61%) are more likely than those in other regions to view teacher salaries as a big problem (52% Los Angeles, 48% Inland Empire, 42% Orange/San Diego, 41% Central Valley). Four in ten or more across parties, regions, and demographic groups see them as a big problem, except Republicans (36%).
Six in ten Californians support public school teachers striking for higher pay (61% of adults, 65% of public school parents), including majorities across regions and demographic groups. Teachers’ unions also receive strong support from adults (66%) and public school parents (70%), with about six in ten or more approving across regions and demographic groups. Eight in ten Democrats and seven in ten independents approve, while about two in three Republicans disapprove. Strong majorities also favor building affordable housing for local teachers on land where public schools have closed (66% of adults, 71% of public school parents).
More than six in ten are concerned about declining enrollment affecting funding for their local schools (adults: 23% very, 41% somewhat; public school parents: 26% very, 44% somewhat). Concern is higher in Los Angeles (72%) than elsewhere. Majorities of Californians also express concern about chronic absenteeism in their local public schools (adults: 20% very, 40% somewhat; public school parents: 19% very, 36% somewhat).
Strong majorities of adults and public school parents say they are either very (44% adults, 40% public school parents) or somewhat (23% adults, 35% public school parents) concerned about the impact of increased immigration enforcement on undocumented students and their families in local schools. Concern is highest in Los Angeles, where a majority of residents (53%) say they are very concerned (44% San Francisco Bay Area, 42% Central Valley, 41% Orange/San Diego, 35% Inland Empire). Latinos (50%) are more likely than other racial and ethnic groups to be very concerned (43% African Americans, 41% whites, 36% Asian Americans).
About seven in ten adults (67%) and public school parents (73%) favor their public school district designating itself as a “safe zone” from federal enforcement efforts. Nine in ten Democrats and seven in ten independents favor this, while eight in ten Republicans are opposed. Majorities across regions and demographic groups support the policy, though the shares vary. Support is highest among Los Angeles residents (78%), Latinos (78%), and adults ages 18 to 34 (77%).
Seven in ten adults and three in four public school parents also favor requiring school staff to keep the immigration status of students and their family members confidential. At least six in ten across regions and demographic groups support this policy, including eight in ten Latinos and Los Angeles residents. Overwhelming majorities of Democrats and independents are in favor, while about two in three Republicans are opposed (67%).
Transitional Kindergarten
As of the 2025–26 school year, transitional kindergarten (TK) is available to all four-year-olds in California’s public schools. Seven in ten Californians think that attending transitional kindergarten is very (38%) or somewhat important (34%) to a student’s success in kindergarten through grade 12, while one in four say it is not too (18%) or not at all important (7%). Today’s findings are in line with responses to a similar question about the importance of preschool in surveys dating back 20 years to 2006.
Today, as they have been in the past, public school parents are more likely than all adults to say attending preschool is very important. Among adults, the view that TK is important is held by about two in three or more across regions and most demographic groups. However, there are differences across subgroups. Notably, Democrats (45%) are twice as likely as Republicans (22%) to say TK is very important; 37 percent of independents hold this view. African Americans and Latinos are much more likely than Asian Americans and whites to think attending TK is very important.
The expansion of TK resulted from the passage of the Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) program (AB 130), which requires public schools with kindergarten to provide free, high-quality, inclusive prekindergarten for all four-year-olds. As the program has expanded, the availability of facilities that are appropriate for the developmental needs of four-year-olds has emerged as a potential challenge. However, when asked about their local public schools, over half of Californians (54%) and seven in ten public school parents (69%) say public schools have appropriate facilities. Democrats (61%) are more likely than independents (50%) and Republicans (47%) to say their public schools have these facilities. About half or more across regions and demographic groups hold this view, with Latinos (61%), residents in Los Angeles (59%), and those with incomes of $100,000 or more (58%) the most likely to say their schools have appropriate facilities.
Another implementation challenge has been raising awareness of transitional kindergarten. And when asked if their local public schools have raised awareness about the availability and benefits of TK, four in ten (42%) adults and six in ten public school parents (61%) say yes. Fewer than half across parties, regions, and demographic groups say their public schools have raised awareness.
California’s TK program aims to prepare children for kindergarten by providing an additional year of schooling. Many Californians are concerned that some students are less likely than others to be prepared for kindergarten. Specifically, there is concern that children in lower-income areas (25% very concerned, 44% somewhat concerned) and students who speak English as a second language (20% very concerned, 41% somewhat concerned) are less likely than other children to be ready for kindergarten. Concern has been similar in surveys since 2020, even as the share of students who could access TK has increased.
How do Californians feel about the state government currently funding universal transitional kindergarten (UTK) for all four-year-olds in California? About two in three adults (68%) and three in four public school parents (76%) support funding this program. Support today is in line with responses to a similar question in earlier surveys about whether state government should fund voluntary preschool programs, such as transitional kindergarten, for all four-year-olds in California.
While there is strong support for UTK, there is a wide partisan divide: eight in ten Democrats and seven in ten independents are in favor, while six in ten Republicans are opposed. Looking beyond partisan differences, there is broad support for UTK, with about six in ten or more across regions and demographic groups in favor. Residents in Los Angeles are the most supportive, and women are more likely than men to be in favor. Notably, those aged 55 and older (59%) are much less likely than those under 55 (73%) to be in favor.
Topics
2026 Election K–12 Education Political Landscape Statewide SurveyLearn More
Our Nation’s Founding Documents Matter to Californians
Big California Dreams for College, Uneven Paths to a Degree
California Voters and the Top-Two Primary
As Elections Approach, Californians See Value in Civic Education
A Briefing on PPIC’s Californians and Education Survey Paints a Mixed Picture
California’s Transitional Kindergarten Expansion
