Statement: Newsom’s Proposal to restructure the Dept. of Ed is an undemocratic attempt to consolidate power

Photo Credit: Hector Amezcua, The Sacramento Bee via AP, Pool

Governor Newsom has announced his proposal to consolidate power and place control over the California Department of Education (CDE) under the Governor’s position as a part of the 2026-27 initial budget proposal. This proposal alleges an improvement to the support and oversight of California’s schools by moving the management of the CDE under the Governor, but the Frank Lara for State Superintendent of Public Instruction campaign does not see it that way. This is an opportunistic and undemocratic maneuver that Newsom is attempting to pull on voters in California as he leaves office to satisfy the billionaires at the cost of our students' futures. 

This proposal is based on one study in particular, although it’s reported that approximately 6 studies over the past 100 years have said that governance over the CDE is fragmented. While there may be challenges within the organizational structure of the California Department of Education, the solution to these challenges does not begin with an undemocratic consolidation of power to the governor to be completely in charge of the department. One preview says this would remove the Superintendent position from overseeing policy, the State Board of Education, and the CDE, and instead have them act as a “champion for education” as a voting member of two boards. In effect, this makes the State Superintendent a figurehead role with no real power, beholden to following the desires of the governor. 

The governor made this proposal without consulting the current Superintendent of Public Instruction or the CDE. Additionally, he’s proposing the change through the budget process instead of putting it to voters, knowing that the previous times this has gone to voters it has failed. Governor Newsom claims to have gotten support from key stakeholders, including the California Association of School Business Officials, CA County Superintendents, and a Private University Dean. While there are some non-profit leaders in that list, multiple of these “key stakeholders” are linked to a history of charter school expansion and there is a noticeable group missing from his consultation: any group representing educators. 

The aforementioned groups that Newsom has cited as supporters of this proposal are the same people responsible for the financial mismanagement and privatization of our tax-payer dollars in districts across the state. They will benefit greatly from having less accountability, which we can expect when the power of oversight is consolidated into a singular entity: the governor. 

One of the other findings in that same study points to the issues with Prop 13 and Prop 98 as funding sources for education because of their limitations and lack of ability to lead to long term planning. If stable education funding were a serious concern, then why have neither Democrats nor Republicans in California have shown a willingness to create any change in our tax structure that would generate more revenue for schools? This is because the politicians in our state who are backed by billionaires understand that if they really wanted to prioritize education, they would have to tax the corporations and ultra-rich. Neither Democrats nor Republicans in California have prioritized the demands our platform is raising: fully funding schools, lowering class sizes, ensuring quality special education services for all. It is educators, our unions, and allies who have organized and demanded that Sacramento deliver more for our students. 

I believe we need significant changes in the Dept of Education. That’s why I’m running as a socialist under the Peace and Freedom Party. Instead of consolidating power into one governor, and keeping the status quo with another reform idea from the same billionaire-backed two party system, we must demand better. As an educator and union leader I know what it’s like to be in the classroom, to support educators, to hold a district accountable, and to bring people together to accomplish a goal. Let’s begin by fully funding our schools. And if the CDE does need to be restructured, it must be done in collaboration with key stakeholders, especially the SPI, leaders in the CDE, educators, and voters, not as a part of a budget proposal.

I look forward to continuing to learn more about this proposal, digging more into the proposed state budget, and advocating with state unions, educators, students, families, and all working people in California to do what is best for California’s students.