The findings released April 23 by the Public Policy Institute of California also show parents are worried about providing distance learning to their children, with lower-income parents and those who rent being more likely to express concern.  Asked to name the most important issue facing the state’s public schools today, California adults (14 percent) and public school parents (16 percent) are most likely to name COVID-19 and distance learning, followed by lack of funding (11 percent adults, 10 percent public school parents), concerns about curriculum (9 percent adults, 8 percent public school parents), large class sizes (7 percent adults, 9 percent public school parents), and concerns about standards/quality of education (5 percent adults, 8 percent public school parents). Many parents of public school children 18 or under (58 percent) say the local school closures due to COVID-19 pose a big problem or somewhat of a problem. Asked how concerned they are about providing productive learning at home, solid majorities 70 percent public school parents say they are very or somewhat concerned. Parents with annual household incomes less than $60,000 (69 percent) are more likely than parents with household incomes of $60,000 or more (56 percent) to be at least somewhat concerned about offering learning at home. “COVID-19 is the most important issue facing schools today as many parents report having problems with school closures and express concerns about learning at home,” said Mark Baldassare, PPIC president and CEO, in a news release. Overwhelming majorities of Californians (78 percent adults, 83 percent public school parents) are either very or somewhat worried that they or a family member will get sick from the coronavirus. Similar shares (75 percent adults, 85 percent public school parents) are very or somewhat worried that the pandemic will have a negative impact on their personal finances.