SAN FRANCISCO – (INT) – Parents of California public school students are weighing in on the biggest challenges in the wake of the COVID pandemic and the issue of school boards banning books.

They told the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) that catching up, academically, and dealing with the social-emotional impacts are their biggest concerns. Fifty-one percent of the parents of public school students say that their child fell behind academically during the pandemic.

The poll also found nearly seven in ten Californians strongly oppose or somewhat oppose individual school boards passing laws to ban certain books and remove them from classrooms and school libraries. Democrats lead the opposition followed by Independents. Most favor public schools teaching about the history of slavery, racism, and segregation.

Strong majorities approve of the state funding voluntary preschool for all four-year-olds.

Story Date: April 25, 2024