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Participation in California Prison Programs amid and after the Pandemic
Key Takeaways As prison programs evolved in response to widespread disruption caused by the pandemic, participation rates in prison programs shifted in comparison to rates in the years before. In this...
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Policy Brief: Participation in California Prison Programs amid and after the...
Pandemic responses by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) led to changes in the prison population that exacerbated long-running challenges in providing education,...
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Older Workers in California
Key Takeaways California’s workforce is being reshaped by the unprecedented aging of the state’s population. By 2040, roughly 23 percent of Californians will be 65 or older—up from 14 percent in...
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Policy Brief: Older Workers in California
California’s workforce is being reshaped by the unprecedented aging of the state’s population. By 2040, roughly 23 percent of Californians will be 65 or older—up from 14 percent in 2020—while the...
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Financing California’s Public Schools
K–12 funding has been at record high levels in recent years. Between 2020–21 and 2025–26, state funding increased by 24.2%, about on par with inflation. In 2025–26, state, local, and federal funding...
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Students with Disabilities in California
A growing share of California students need specialized support. California schools serve over 880,000 students with disabilities—about 15% of total enrollment. This share has risen 4 percentage points...
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Policy Brief: Why California Needs a Modern Approach to Accounting for Water
California’s nearly 40 million people and $4 trillion economy depend on water for everything from thriving agriculture to healthy ecosystems to robust industry. Yet due to the state’s highly variable...
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Housing in California
Housing is much more expensive in California than elsewhere in the nation. The typical middle-tier home value in California is more than double the national average—roughly $776,000 versus $372,000 in...
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PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government
Key Findings The California election has entered its final stretch, with the governor’s race at the top of the ticket and 52 House races that will help determine the party in control of the 120th...
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Understanding Increases in Late Vote-by-Mail Ballots in California
Key Takeaways California has long encouraged voting by mail, and the state allows counties to count ballots postmarked by Election Day if they arrive within seven days. Recent US Postal Service changes...
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California’s Cash-Based Safety Net
Cash assistance programs help low-income Californians meet basic needs. Cash-based programs kept 1.6 million Californians—including 690,000 children—out of poverty in 2024, according to the California...
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California Voter and Party Profiles
Over four in ten registered voters are Democrats; independent registration has remained somewhat similar. The share of registered voters who are Democrats (44.9%) has decreased slightly since 2022...
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California’s Likely Voters
More than eight in ten eligible Californians are registered to vote. As of May 2026, 23.2 million of California’s 27.3 million eligible adults (85%) were registered to vote. Along with voter...
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Homelessness and Drug Use in California
Key Takeaways In the past decade, California has grappled with growing rates of homelessness and the intertwined issue of serious drug use. Over a similar timeframe, the state’s criminal justice system...
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Policy Brief: Homelessness and Drug Use in California
In the past decade, California has grappled with growing rates of homelessness and the intertwined issue of serious drug use. Over a similar timeframe, the state’s criminal justice system has undergone...
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Making Sense of Varying Policies for Reclassifying English Learners
Key Takeaways Many students starting school in California are multilingual and may require support services to gain English fluency. A key milestone for these English Learners (ELs) is...
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Policy Brief: Making Sense of Varying Policies for Reclassifying English...
When students first enroll in K–12 schools, federal law requires districts to identify those who may need English language supports. English Learners (EL) are then evaluated each year on their...
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The State of California’s K–12 Schools
California’s schools have seen major upheavals in recent years. California overhauled its school funding system a decade ago, targeting additional funds to high-need students and giving districts...
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California’s Political Geography 2026
Key Takeaways California’s political geography reflects both growing national polarization and enduring regional differences. Using survey data and sophisticated modeling to estimate public opinion...
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Policy Brief: California’s Political Geography 2026
Heading into November, several issues and concerns weigh heavily on voters’ minds. From living costs and immigration to climate change and abortion, Californians will go to the ballot hoping to elect...
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