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California continues to lag behind other states on many issues affecting child well-being, according to the new 2026 Children’s Report Card, out today.

Researchers from the nonprofit Children Now looked at 30 indicators of health, education, child welfare, early childhood and online safety, and awarded the Golden State a "C-minus" or below on nearly half the issues researched.

Kelly Hardy, senior managing director of health and research for Children Now, said one of the lowest grades came in early intervention and special education.

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"There's not enough support for special education, so very low numbers of special education teachers compared to what's needed," she said, "and the kids who are being identified for support are often just not getting the supports that they need."

The state also got a “D” for student connections with adults because California schools have fewer teachers, counselors, nurses and other support staff per student than almost any other state. The report finds that California health-care plans need to do a better job of ensuring childhood preventive screenings to detect delayed development and high lead levels in the blood. The data also show that instability in the foster-care system continues to spur low graduation rates and very low test scores in reading, science, and math.

On the bright side, Hardy said, California gets a “B” for paid family leave after a new law significantly hiked the amount people get paid.

"In 2025, they increased the wage replacement level for lower-income workers," she said, "which really just means that more workers take time off to bond with a new child."

California also posted strong grades on the number of children with health insurance and on participation rates for pre-K and transitional kindergarten programs. Children Now hopes the Report Card will push policymakers to do more to prioritize kids as they negotiate the new state budget this spring.