Statewide — With school safety concerns on the rise, as school shootings have continuously devastated the nation, a recent survey reveals that most Californians favor having armed police officers present on campus during school hours. The support is especially strong among parents of public school students.
According to an April 2025 Statewide Survey from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), 71% of adults across the state approve of assigning armed officers to schools, with 35% stating they are strongly in favor.
Among public school parents, approval climbs to 76%, with nearly half in strong agreement.
The results come amid widespread unease about the potential for mass shootings. Roughly three out of four California adults said they are at least somewhat worried about such incidents in schools.
In 2024, there were three school shootings in California.
Concern was evident across political affiliations, though it was more pronounced among Democrats and independents than Republicans.
Views on state education leadership remain divided. Half of respondents expressed approval of Governor Gavin Newsom’s performance on K–12 education issues.
The legislature received a 48% approval rating, and 47% voiced support for State Superintendent Tony Thurmond.
Despite these approval numbers, confidence in the trajectory of public education remains limited.
Only 45% of respondents said they believe California’s K–12 system is on the right track.
Half said the system requires major changes, and 49% reported that school quality has deteriorated in recent years. Just 10% said it had improved.
Access and equity challenges continue to be top of mind. Forty-four percent of participants said that schools in low-income areas lack the resources they need.
Another 44% said teacher shortages are a serious concern, and 48% believe teacher compensation does not align with the state’s cost of living.
These concerns were especially significant among African American respondents and Democratic voters.
On the issue of school funding, 48% of adults and 50% of public school parents said that financial resources are insufficient. A majority, 58%, indicated they would vote for a statewide bond to improve school facilities.
Similar support was found for local bonds, but fewer people backed increased local taxes for education, with only 45% in favor.
Early education received strong backing. Nearly 70% support publicly funded preschool options like transitional kindergarten.
Additionally, 78% pointed to affordability as a major obstacle. Parents of school-aged children were especially likely to value early learning programs as vital to long-term academic success.
The poll also gauged opinions on federal education policy. Seventy-one percent opposed a proposed executive order to shut down the U.S. Department of Education.
Meanwhile, 65% approved of rules requiring transgender student-athletes to participate in sports based on their sex assigned at birth, a policy that has drawn criticism from civil rights groups.
Immigration policy remains a sensitive issue. Two-thirds of respondents expressed concern about how immigration enforcement affects undocumented students.
Most agreed that schools should be designated as safe zones and that student immigration information should remain confidential.
Conducted from March 27 to April 4, the PPIC survey included 1,591 California residents.
According to PPIC survey director Mark Baldassare, the findings highlight a public balancing immediate safety needs with long-term questions of equity and educational quality.
