Researchers say the greatest need in low-income communities is for programs serving children under 5 years old, such as preschool and transitional kindergarten.
Proponents say extra tuition from non-Californians will pay for classes, aid for state residents. Protesters fear only the rich from outside the state will afford UC.
The poll by Berkeley IGS/EdSource found nine out of ten respondents think that more aid for low-income students is very or somewhat important. Republicans show less support than Democrats.
Through a community partnership, science specialists at the Lawrence Hall of Science are bringing free, play-based science lessons to playgroups for low-income families across the Bay Area.
The new policy is a compromise that allows five campuses to grow their out-of-state undergraduates to 18 percent, while freezing such enrollment at the four campuses already above that level. One regent said UC was "building a wall" around the university.
UC administrators say the enrollment of nonresidents helps Californians, while some legislators say they think admission spots are being denied to in-state students. A vote on a cap was postponed until May after much disagreement among regents.
