Clik here to view.
Improving Safety Net Enrollment among California College Students
California’s high school seniors are now in the process of receiving their college acceptance letters. For many families, cost will be an important factor: two-thirds of parents are worried about...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Income Inequality in California
The gap between high and low incomes is wider in California than in most other states. In 2023 (the most recent data available), families at the top of the income distribution—the 90th...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Testimony: A Snapshot of Food Insecurity in California
PPIC research associate Tess Thorman testified before the Senate Human Services Committee on March 11, 2025. Here are their prepared remarks. Good morning. My name is Tess Thorman. I am a researcher at...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Safety Net Programs Can Make College More Affordable for Low-Income Students
California’s lowest-income college students typically qualify for the maximum amount of need-based financial aid, but they may find it challenging to cover their remaining costs. At a virtual event...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Homelessness Hits Record High in California, Jumps Dramatically in Rest of US
Californians have consistently cited homelessness as a top issue facing the state, and in 2024, homelessness reached record highs. Of the nation’s 771,500 people experiencing homelessness, over 187,000...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Testimony: Cost Pressures and Affordability for Californians in Today’s Economy
Sarah Bohn, PPIC vice president and director of the PPIC Economic Policy Center, testified before the Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact on March 24, 2025. Here...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Closer Look at California’s Surging Electricity Rates
California is struggling with an affordability crisis, and in recent weeks, the focus has turned to the state’s soaring electricity rates. With policymakers concerned that high costs might encourage...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Covered California Boasts Nearly 2 Million Enrollees, with Some Dreamers Now...
Open enrollment for Covered California, the state’s health care marketplace, ended on January 31 with a record 1.98 million enrollees. For the first time, some “Dreamers”—undocumented immigrants who...
View ArticleClik here to view.
California’s Nutrition Safety Net
More than 15 public programs aim to ensure that all Californians can access nutritious food. In early 2023, an estimated 4.2 million households were participating in at least one of the three largest...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Assets, Debts, and Wealth in California
Key Takeaways Household wealth—or the value of what you own minus what you owe—has the capacity to ensure near-term stability, allow investments in the future, and build long-term security for...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Five Fast Facts on the Cost of Living in California
Californians have long exchanged a high cost of living for the advantages to living in the state. But recent economic turmoil may have Californians questioning this tradeoff. Inflation after the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Policy Brief: Assets, Debts, and Wealth in California
Highlights Households in California typically have more wealth than those in other states, despite holding more debt. Estimated median household net worth in California is $288,000, compared to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
West Contra Costa’s Summer Meal Programs Provide Food and Community
In addition to its universal meals program during the school year, California has several programs that provide food assistance to low-income children when school is out—including meals and SUN Bucks...
View ArticleClik here to view.
California’s Cash-Based Safety Net
Cash assistance programs help low-income Californians meet basic needs. According to the California Poverty Measure (CPM), cash-based programs kept 1.8 million Californians—including 760,000...
View ArticleClik here to view.
California’s K–12 Test Scores
Half of students met the state standard in English, while one in three were proficient in math. Results from the 2024 Smarter Balanced assessments (SBAC) show that nearly half (47%) of all students met...
View ArticleClik here to view.
California’s Changing School Demographics
California’s public school enrollment has declined from about 6.2 million in 2014–15 to 5.8 million in 2024–25; the last time enrollment was this low was about 25 years ago—in 1998–99—when it was...
View ArticleClik here to view.
California Increases Financial Aid Application Rate
As recent high school graduates prepare to head to college in the fall, increasing numbers stand to benefit from financial aid. New data suggests that a majority of this year’s graduates—58%—submitted...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Snapshot of Household Wealth in California
Households in California tend to have more wealth than those in other states, despite holding more debt. At a virtual PPIC event last week, Tess Thorman outlined a recent report that looks at assets,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Exploring Record-High Student Homelessness
Despite widespread enrollment declines in California public schools, the number of students experiencing homelessness rose by almost 20,000 in 2024. This is the highest rate of student homelessness in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Digital Access in California
Digital access is at an all-time high in California—but progress has slowed since the early days of the pandemic. A record-high 96% of Californians had access to internet—including satellite—at home in...
View Article
