The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) Statewide Survey series provides policymakers, the media, and the public with objective, advocacy-free information on the perceptions, opinions, and public policy preferences of California residents. Inaugurated in April 1998, this is the 116th PPIC Statewide Survey in a series that has generated a database of responses of more than 246,000 Californians. This survey is conducted with funding from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Its goal is to inform state policymakers, encourage discussion, and raise public awareness about K-12 public education issues; this is the seventh annual PPIC Statewide Survey since 2005 to focus on this topic. California also has a highly diverse student population: more than half are economically disadvantaged (55%), a quarter are English learners (24%), and 11 percent have developmental, physical, emotional, or learning disabilities. Latinos (50%) make up the largest racial/ethnic group of students, followed by whites (27%), Asians (12%), and blacks (7%). This year's survey measures perceptions of the ongoing toll that the economic downturn and the state's budget situation are taking on California's K-12 system, which is the largest portion of the state budget, consuming about 40 percent of general fund spending. Governor Brown has proposed sparing K-12 from cuts in fiscal 2011-12 if voters approve temporary tax and fee increases. But if this tax and fee proposal never makes it to the ballot or if voters reject it, K-12 education will face significant funding reductions. Schools have already been grappling with reduced funding levels. Recent studies of school administrators and principals reflect ongoing teacher and staff layoffs, increased class sizes, a shortened school year, program cuts, and deferred maintenance. This report presents the responses of 2,504 California adult residents on the following topics: (1) General perceptions, including opinions of educational quality in California's K-12 public schools; approval ratings of the governor and legislature overall and on their handling of K-12 education; perceived rankings of California's per pupil spending and student test scores; concerns about students and schools in lower-income areas; perceptions of their local public schools; and opinions of public school parents about their children's schools; (2) Fiscal attitudes and policy preferences, including concerns about the budget situation and some of the specific ways schools are dealing with decreased funding levels; attitudes toward other ideas for cutting spending; preferences for raising state revenues to maintain current K-12 funding; preferences for raising revenues for local public schools; and attitudes toward a special election; and (3) Time trends, national comparisons, and variations in perceptions, attitudes, and preferences across racial/ethnic groups (Asians, blacks, Latinos, and non-Hispanic whites), across five major regions of the state (Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles County, Inland Empire, and Orange/San Diego Counties), across socioeconomic and political groups, and among parents of children attending public schools.