There is strong consensus in California and in the country around the notions of equal opportunity for all children, and giving kids a chance of having it better than their parents. The reality in California is that most families lack the means and resources to provide their children with the basic building blocks of a productive life in the 21st century. Almost half of California's children now live in low-income families. With inadequate access to high-quality early learning experiences, rigorous K-12 academics and enriching afterschool and summer programs, children growing up in lower-income families have disproportionately lower rates of high school graduation. The "2014 California Children's Report Card" lets everyone know how kids in California are really doing and what needs to be done about it from a public policy perspective. It covers the many education, health and child welfare issues--27 in all--that work together to determine children's well-being. Each one is defined, measured and graded--from A to F--to benchmark the past year and outline a path forward. Despite some positive recent efforts, children in California are doing very poorly overall. [This report was written with the assistance of Allyson Werner, Juanita Castillo and Margaux McFetridge. The following foundations and corporations supported portions of this report: The Atlas Family Foundation, California Community Foundation, the California Education Policy Fund--A sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc., The California Endowment, The California Wellness Foundation, Joseph Drown Foundation, Friedman Family Foundation, Heising-Simons Foundation, Hurlbut-Johnson Fund-An advised fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation and The David and Lucile Packard Foundation.]