Optimism bias is common across health risk assessments, including firearm injury risk, and can have behavioral consequences. Using data from the 2018 California Safety and Wellbeing Survey, we examine whether optimism bias influences firearm injury prevention practices and policy support by comparing the characteristics, behaviors, and opinions of…

Background: E-cigarette use has increased rapidly in the past decade despite studies showing their negative health outcomes. There is limited knowledge on the characteristics of users and possible interventions. Purpose: This study presents the demographic characteristics of e-cigarette users in California, propose tailored interventions, and…

This study assessed the prevalence of weapon-related behaviors and experiences in secondary schools in California, their intercorrelations, and predictors at the individual and school levels. This study is based on a representative sample of 889,726 secondary school students in California based on the California Healthy Kids Survey. Prevalence…

In 2019, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation engaged SRI Education to "refresh" a 2007 study, published as "An Unfinished Canvas" (Woodworth et al., 2007). In 2022, SRI released "Creativity Challenge" (Woodworth et al., 2022). Both studies were commissioned to assess the status of arts education in California,…

Though California's English Learner (EL) policies were developed in response to civil rights struggles for language access and equal educational opportunity, they are also conditioned by the history of U.S. settler and overseas conquest. This article presents a Critical Policy Analysis (CPA) of the California EL classification policies and…

As a social species, humans have an inherent need to feel connected to others and to feel like we belong with others. Existing medical research demonstrates that social isolation--defined as the perceived absence of feeling socially connected--during childhood and adolescence has both concurrent and longterm negative mental and physical health…

Nearly half of 5- to 17-year-olds have experienced trauma in the form of at-school victimization. Exposure to trauma increases students' risk for mental health disorders and school failure. This study reviews at-school victimization in middle and high school students and associated health outcomes that may negatively impact academic outcomes.…

The PPIC (Public Policy Institute of California) Statewide Survey provides a voice for the public and likely voters--informing policymakers, encouraging discussion, and raising awareness on critical issues of the day. This 14th annual survey involved interviewing 1,704 California adults between March 25-April 3, 2018. Findings include: (1) Most…

Because many school districts receive funding based on student attendance, absenteeism results in a high cost for the public education system. This study shows the direct links between bias-based bullying, school absenteeism because of feeling unsafe at school, and loss of funds for school districts in California. Data from the 2011-2013…

There has been a growing interest among districts and schools to expand their definition of student success to focus on the whole child, yet many still lack the measures needed to prioritize and inform this work. The CORE Districts, a group of districts in California committed to measuring and supporting an expanded definition of student success,…

The PPIC Statewide Survey delivers nonpartisan, objective, advocacy-free information on the perceptions, opinions, and public policy preferences of California residents. PPIC invites input, comments, and suggestions from policy and public opinion experts and from its own advisory committee, but survey methods, questions, and content are determined…

States have begun to incorporate careers pathway programs into their workforce and professional development systems in order to strengthen and support the early childhood workforce. A career pathways approach offers career advancement through a progression of educational qualifications, training, and credentials that build on each other and are…

Key findings from the current survey: (1) Most Californians say charter schools are an important option for parents in low-income areas--but many express concern that charters divert funding from traditional public schools; (2) More than half of residents across regions say teacher salaries in their community are too low; and (3) Majorities…

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the extent to which a proposed home language survey in California could better identify possible English learner and multilingual students than the current home language survey. The responses to a proposed and current survey were examined for students registering for kindergarten through grade…

Research has found that when compared with civilian students, military-connected students in the United States have more negative mental health outcomes, stemming from the stress of military life events (i.e., deployment). To date, studies on military-connected youth have not examined the role of protective factors within the school environment,…