California is failing to meet its promises to children — especially in students’ well-being and education — according to a new report released Wednesday. The 2026 California Children’s Report Card, released by the research nonprofit Children Now, graded the state across several areas, including health and education, evaluating changes in outcomes, policies and progress compared with the rest of the country. Kelly Hardy, senior managing director of health at Children Now and co-author of the report, said a combination of staff shortages, large class sizes and insufficient funding has led to a widening achievement gap among California students that is faring worse than other large states. Education California earned a passing grade in preschool, transitional kindergarten and expanded learning programs. But failed in adult-to-student ratios in classrooms and early intervention and special education because of inadequate staffing, resources and training to support or engage students. “Students are not able to get in to see a guidance counselor, to change a class or to talk about college,” Hardy said. “So, families with resources are able to support that student in other ways, but families with less resources don’t get that option.” California consistently ranks near the bottom of all states in staff-to-student ratios, with nearly 22 students per teacher, compared with a U.S. average of about 15 students. New York’s average is about 11 students per teacher. To improve the ratios, Hardy suggests that school districts better allocate funds from the Local Control Funding Formula “to hire staff in schools with…
