Voters Demand Big Changes to California Schools in a Wide-Open Governor’s Race

Overview

• New PPIC polling shows 89% of Californians say K–12 schools need major changes, with only 8% saying quality has improved and about half saying it has gotten worse.
• Voters rate candidates’ stances on TK–12 as highly important, yet a recent televised debate barely touched education, underscoring a gap between public concern and campaign focus.
• The Senate Education Committee advanced SB 1067 to create universal math screening in kindergarten through second grade to spot learning issues early and get students help.
• The bill responds to poor performance in math, with only 37% of students at grade level and California ranking 43rd in fourth-grade math on national tests.
• Parents show rising worry about classroom tech, with nine in ten supporting limits on student cell-phone use and most doubting that artificial intelligence will help schools.