L.A. SCHOOLS FLUNK PUBLIC OPINION TEST LOCAL DISTRICTS TRAIL STATE IN SURVEY.

Byline: HARRISON SHEPPARD Staff Writer

SACRAMENTO -- Californians have a low opinion of the state's education system, with residents of Los Angeles taking a dimmer view of their public schools than those in any other region, a poll released Thursday says.

The Public Policy Institute of California survey found that just 15 percent of Los Angeles County residents gave the local public schools an A grade and 14 percent gave a D or F. By comparison, Orange County and San Diego residents gave their schools the highest rating, with 25 percent giving an A, and only 7 percent giving a D or F.

Los Angeles Unified School District board President Marlene Canter said the public perception lags the actual improvements the district has undergone in test scores and others areas in the last few years.

``We're dealing with 30 years of neglect,'' Canter said. ``What we have seen in the last six years is more progress than has happened over the last 30.

``I think it will take time for the perception of success to catch up. We're moving in the right direction.''

She said, for example, the district has shown one of the best improvements in API scores at the elementary level in the state. One problem facing the district, she said, is adequately communicating some of the successes to the public.

The poll comes as Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is pushing a controversial effort to establish control over the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Villaraigosa said he was not surprised by the survey's findings.

``I think there are a lot of reasons people are unhappy with their schools,'' Villaraigosa said. ``I think people are looking for change and fundamental reform in the education system.''

He noted that statewide, education is underfunded and per-pupil spending in California is near the bottom among the states.

``It's no wonder people are upset with the schools,'' he said.

Villaraigosa's comments came at a news conference where he promised to take an active role to win voter support for Proposition 82, the measure on the June ballot that would increase income taxes on those making over $400,000 a year to fund a statewide preschool program.

The poll found 51 percent of likely voters support Proposition 82, and 40 percent oppose it.

That measure would impose taxes on the wealthy, but the poll found most average Californians wouldn't be willing to let their own taxes increase to help improve education.

Sixty-three percent of Californians would oppose an increase in the state sales tax and 72 percent oppose an increase in property taxes to help provide additional funding for schools. A majority, however, was willing to raise taxes on the rich, with 64 percent supporting raising the top income tax rate on the wealthy to pay for education.

``The public's frustration with the state of education is palpable,'' PPIC survey director Mark Baldassare said. ``They see lots of rhetoric but little progress.''

LAUSD Superintendent Roy Romer said the district has made substantial progress in recent years. The lower poll ratings, he said, reflect the characteristics of large urban areas where people typically feel disconnected from their government institutions.

Over the last six years, he said, Academic Performance Index scores are up 196 points at the elementary level, compared with a state average increase of 125 points. Meanwhile, the district is building more new schools more rapidly than any other large urban district in the country.

``We are rapidly changing,'' Romer said. ``If you took this poll five years ago, you'd have found a whole lot more negative. If you take it five years from now, you'd find a lot more positive.''

The PPIC surveyed 2,501 residents from throughout California, with interviews conducted in five different languages, April 4 to 19.

Here are other findings: -- Thirty-two percent of Californians believe the quality of education in public schools has gotten worse over the past two years while 17 percent believe it has improved and 40 percent think it has stayed the same.

-- Fifty-one percent of adults disapprove of the way Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is handling the state's public education system; 29 percent approve; the remaining 12 percent don't know.

-- Fifty-five percent disapprove of how the state Legislature is handling education; 21 percent approve.

-- Thirty-four percent disapprove of how Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell is handling education; 21 percent approve.

-- Among ethnic groups, blacks have the highest disapproval ratings for public officials' handling of education, with 71 percent of blacks disapproving of Schwarzenegger, 69 percent disapproving of the Legislature and 53 percent disapproving of O'Connell.

-- Sixty percent of adults rated the state's public education as ``not so good'' or ``poor'' in preparing students for jobs and the work force.

Staff Writer Rick Orlov contributed to this report.

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Chart:

Low Expectations

SOURCE: Public Policy Institute poll