Kids are falling behind in school, survey says + A ballot initiative battle is avoided
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!
MANY PARENTS SAY THEIR KIDS HAVE FALLEN BEHIND
Nearly half, 46%, of parents of school-aged children say that those children have fallen behind academically since COVID-19 began, according to a new survey released by the Public Policy Institute of California.
Public school parents likewise report their children falling behind, with 46% saying their kids have fallen at least a little behind in class.
“Many parents report their child has fallen behind academically during the pandemic while also noting its social and emotional challenges,” said Mark Baldassare, PPIC president and CEO, in a statement.
The new survey, conducted between March 30 and April 13, interviewed 1,591 adult California residents.
It found that a majority (60%) of adults approve of how Gov. Gavin Newsom is handling the K-12 education system, with 57% saying they think the system is heading in the right direction.
However, 42% of adults say that California public schools have gotten worse in recent years.
A majority of those surveyed (61%) said they support ending the school mask mandate, though 71% of adults believe that all teachers should have a federally approved COVID-19 vaccine and 68% of adults believe that all students should as well.
Teachers aren’t making enough money, according to 62% of those surveyed, while more than half (52%) say that teacher shortages are a big problem.
Finally, a solid majority of those surveyed (77%) see preschool as at least somewhat important to a student’s success, and 72% of adults believe California should fund voluntary preschool programs, including transitional kindergartens, for all 4-year-olds in the state.
BALLOT INITIATIVE BATTLE AVOIDED
Well that’s one less costly ballot initiative battle that will happen this November.
Supporters and opponents of a ballot initiative to raise the amount of damages one can collect in medical malpractice lawsuits came together Wednesday along with state lawmakers to announce a compromise had been reached that will make it unnecessary to put a ballot initiative before voters.
Under the terms of the compromise, AB 35 will amend state law to raise the current $250,000 injury cap to $350,000, or just over $1 million, depending on the number of defendants. It will also triple the cap for wrongful death cases, from $500,000 to $1.5 million. In 10 years, that cap will increase to $2.25 million for injuries and $3 million for deaths.
“This bill will go a long way to help patients and their families seek justice when injured after obtaining care,” said Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins, D-San Diego, in a statement.. “The collaborative effort from all sides will ultimately strengthen protections for Californians and I’m appreciative to my colleagues, Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes and Senator Tom Umberg, for their leadership, and to the coalition, Governor Gavin Newsom, and Speaker Anthony Rendon, for their dedication to help settle this issue for the public good.”
Rendon, in a statement, said, “This is a strong accomplishment and I want to thank all parties for working out a deal. This includes Majority Leader Eloise Reyes for her hand in the process. This is a great example of what can be accomplished when historically opposing sides talk with one another. The people of California benefit.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Yes!! We just passed #AB1819 out of its first committee to ban foreign influenced corporations from spending in our elections. This is a major move to plug a giant loophole in Citizens United.”
- Assemblyman Alex Lee, D-San Jose, via Twitter.
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