PPIC: Half of adults think major changes needed in education Less than half of Californians say the state’s K–12 public education system is headed in the right direction, according to an annual survey that tracks opinions about education.

The survey released April 17 by the Public Policy Institute of California finds views are split on how Gov. Gavin Newsom, the California Legislature, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond are handling K–12 education. Strong majorities oppose President Donald Trump’s executive order to close down the U.S. Department of Education. Most are concerned about increased federal immigration enforcement activities in schools, and most favor their local school district becoming a sanctuary “safe zone.”

Forty-five percent of Californians think the state’s K–12 public education system is generally going in the right direction today. The share holding this view is similar to a year ago (47 percent in April 2024) but notably smaller than in April 2022 (57 percent). Today, 46 percent of likely voters say the state’s K–12 public education system is headed in the right direction; 56 percent of public school parents hold this view.

Fifty percent of Californians think the state’s K–12 public education system is in need of major changes; 40 percent say minor changes are needed, and 7 percent say the system is fine as is.

“Forty-five percent of Californians think that the state’s K–12 public education system is headed in the right direction,” said Mark Baldassare, PPIC Statewide Survey director and Miller Chair in Public Policy, in a news release. “Half of adults believe that major changes are needed in the state’s K–12 system and that the quality of education in the state’s K–12 public schools has gotten worse in the past few years.”

Most Californians oppose closing the U.S. Department of Education, with a wide partisan divide on this issue. Strong majorities of adults (71 percent), likely voters (69 percent), and public school parents (74 percent) are opposed to President Trump’s recent executive order to close the U.S. Department of Education.

Most Californians are concerned about increased immigration enforcement in schools and favor their local district being a sanctuary “safe zone.” Asked how concerned they are about the impact of increased federal immigration enforcement efforts on undocumented students in local public schools and their families, solid majorities of adults (66 percent), likely voters (64 percent), and public school parents (74 percent) are very or somewhat concerned. This includes solid majorities across regions.

Most Californians support requiring transgender athletes to compete on teams matching the sex they were assigned at birth. Solid majorities of adults (65 percent) and likely voters (64 percent) support requiring that transgender athletes compete on teams that match the sex they were assigned at birth, not the gender they identify with. An overwhelming majority of public school parents (71 percent) support such a requirement.

Read the full report at www.ppic.org/publication/ppic-statewide-survey-californians-and-education-april-2025.

LAUSD picks up national honors at Magnet school conference Los Angeles Unified earned top national honors at the recent Magnet Schools of America conference in Nashville, with awards spotlighting the district’s excellence and innovation in magnet education.

Grover Cleveland Charter High School was named Best Magnet School in the Country and Rebecca McMurrin, principal of Ulysses S. Grant Senior High School, was named the Principal of the Year.

These individual awards build on a record-breaking year for Los Angeles Unified magnet schools — 89 programs across the district were recognized by MSA as among the nation’s best. Together, these recognitions and awards underscore Los Angeles Unified’s leadership in providing outstanding, student-centered magnet programs that inspire creativity, achievement and opportunity for all learners.

The district’s magnet programs span a variety of themes, including STEM, visual and performing arts, public service, communication arts, liberal arts, and gifted education. These programs equip students with real-world industry experience, foster partnerships with community organizations, and provide pathways to success in higher education and beyond.

“These national honors from Magnet Schools of America reflect the incredible dedication of our educators, leaders, students and families across Los Angeles Unified,” said Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho, in a news release. “From Cleveland High School being named Best Magnet School in the Country to the recognition of 89 outstanding magnet programs earlier this year, these awards affirm our commitment to excellence and opportunity for every learner. Together, we are setting a national standard for what’s possible in public education.”

New report looks at cyber attacks against K-12 schools More than 80 percent of K-12 organizations have been impacted by cyber threats, according to a new report that details the sophistication, frequency, and impact of cyber attacks against K-12 schools.

The Center for Internet Security released its annual cybersecurity report in March at the SXSW EDU conference in Austin, Texas, to an audience of educators, administrators, innovators, and technology experts.

This is the nonprofit Center for Internet Security’s third annual report dedicated to K-12 cybersecurity, and the second year partnering with the Consortium for School Networking, bringing together experience, expertise, and resources to address this critical issue.

Among the findings, the report found that over an 18-month period (July 2023-December 2024), 82 percent of reporting K-12 organizations experienced cyber threat impacts. Nearly 14,000 security events were observed, with 9,300 confirmed incidents.

The study also finds that cybercriminals target human behavior at least 45 percent more than technical vulnerabilities. Attacks surge during high-stakes periods like exams, disrupting education and forcing difficult decisions.

“The long-term impacts of stolen student and faculty data are only part of the story,” said Randy Rose, VP of Security Operations and Intelligence at CIS, in a news release. “Schools are a vital part of our local communities and cyber attacks against these institutions can have real-world consequences that include missed days, canceled exams, wasted food, and disruptions to child care among other things.”

The report recommends creating a culture of shared responsibility by establishing direct lines of communication between IT teams and educators and implementing smart technical controls that support learning without hindering it. To access the full report, visit learn.cisecurity.org/2025-k12-cybersecurity-report-download.