Newsom’s CA education plan would shift more power to the governor

from Carolyn JonesCalMatters

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Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday proposed reducing the responsibilities of California’s elected state superintendent of public instruction and transferring more power to the State Board of Education.

“California can no longer delay reforms that have been recommended regularly for a century,” Newsom said, citing numerous reports over the years that suggested streamlining the state’s K-12 school governance system.

“These critical reforms will bring greater accountability, clarity and consistency to the way we serve our students and schools,” Newsom said.

The move aims to simplify California’s complex education administration, which political analysts I said it can be ineffective, redundant and sometimes cross-purposed.

Under his proposal, the State Board of Education, an 11-member body appointed by the governor, would take over the California Department of Education. The state superintendent of public instruction will have broader responsibility for “promoting coordination and alignment of state education policies from early childhood through postsecondary education.” The proposal offered no further details.

For more than a century, the state’s K-12 public schools have been governed by a network of authorities, both at the local and state levels. In Sacramento, the governor, superintendent, State Board of Education and Legislature share policy-making duties, which can change every few years depending on the political winds. The Ministry of Education, under the leadership of the Head of State, must implement these policies.

At the local level, school boards and county boards of education also have authority over schools, especially since the state switched to a funding system about a decade ago that gives more flexibility to school districts. District offices, among other duties, are charged with overseeing school district budgets.

California has a somewhat unique system of school governance. It is one of only nine states that elects a school principal. In other states, the superintendent of schools is appointed by the governor or the board of education, according to research by the Education Commission of the States.

Newsom’s proposal reiterates a Report for December by Policy Analysis for California Education, which called for an overhaul of the state’s school governance structure.

“The need for stronger, more consistent governance has never been greater. Schools are grappling with fiscal challenges alongside widening inequalities, persistent opportunity gaps and the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student learning and wellbeing,” the report’s authors wrote.

The issue is especially urgent, they said, as the federal government is winding down its involvement in K-12 schools. President Donald Trump is in the process of closing the federal Department of Education, transferring its responsibilities to states and other federal agencies. Federal education funding is also increasingly uncertain, giving states more direct responsibility for children’s education.

PACE authors proposed several solutions, including Newsom’s proposal. Under PACE’s recommendation, the Department of Education would be run by an administrator appointed by the State Board of Education, and the superintendent would act as an independent advocate to ensure accountability. Most of the authority and responsibility for schools will rest with the governor.

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This is not the first time the issue has been raised. Several ballot measures over the years — none successful — have tried to change the role of the chief of state. In 2023 ACA 9from an ex MP Kevin McCarthyDemocrat from Sacramento, would make the stand appointed by the Governor. McCarthy withdrew it amid opposition from the California Teachers Association, the California School Boards Association and other groups.

In his proposal, Newsom cited other previous reports recommending changes to public school governance, including one from 2002 and another from the 1920s.

Current State Superintendent Tony Thurmond is completing his second term. During his tenure, the department expanded its literacy efforts, community schools, student wellness programs and other initiatives. He has also faced criticism for running side jobs and creating “toxic workplace.”

Thurmond, who left in 2026, is running for governor.

Newsom’s proposal has the support of a wide range of education stakeholders, including the California Association of School Administrators, the California School Business Employees Association, Californians Together, which advocates for English learners, and EdTrust-West, a research and advocacy organization focused on equity.

“For too long, California’s fragmented education management system has contributed to persistent inequities that disproportionately affect low-income students, students of color, and multilingual learners,” said Christopher Nellum, executive director of EdTrust-West. “EdTrust-West applauds Governor Newsom for supporting these essential reforms.”

This article was originally published on CalMatters and is republished under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives license.