California

As California’s schools struggle, governor hopefuls clash over who’s to blame — and who should fix it

Published

5 months ago

January 19, 2026

As California’s schools struggle, governor hopefuls clash over who’s to blame — and who should fix it

Education is California’s largest state expense, consuming more than a third of the state budget through K-12 schools alone. Yet as voters prepare to choose a successor to outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom, candidates across the political spectrum agree the system is falling short.

Reading and math scores among California’s 5.8 million K-12 students trail national averages, and more than half of students are reading below grade level. Meanwhile, declining enrollment, chronic absenteeism and the end of pandemic recovery dollars have forced school leaders to close campuses or issue widespread layoffs to plug multimillion-dollar budget holes.

Those pressures have turned public education into one of the sharpest dividing lines in the race for governor.

Democrats and Republicans largely agree California’s schools are struggling — but they offer starkly different explanations for why, and competing visions for how much power, money and control the state should exert over classrooms, teachers and parents.

The debate unfolds as California faces an escalating clash with President Donald Trump over education policy, with federal funding increasingly at risk amid disputes over transgender athletes’ participation in sports and immigration enforcement on school campuses.

Newsom’s two-term legacy looms over the race.

As governor, Newsom has provided universal free school meals, added transitional kindergarten for all preschool-aged children, pushed to restrict cellphone use on campuses, and launched initiatives aimed at protecting LGBTQ+ students’ mental health and well-being.

At the same time, he has faced criticism for extensive school closures during the pandemic, budget maneuvers that educators say have threatened funding, legislation preventing schools from being required to notify parents if a student changes their gender identity, and new laws and guidance aimed at addressing antisemitism in schools.

Polling shows a wide-open race ahead of the June primary, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the November general election regardless of party affiliation. Democrats are heavily favored in a state where the party holds a roughly 2-to-1 registration advantage over Republicans, who hope voters are ready for a change

Democrats

Most Democratic candidates share broad agreement on increasing school funding, addressing workforce shortages and improving equity — but diverge on how much control the state should exert over districts and how education should be funded.

Among the candidates is the current state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who argues California does not have an achievement gap, but rather an opportunity gap for low-income, minority and homeless students.

Thurmond said schools are chronically underfunded and supports shifting California to an enrollment-based funding model, rather than the state’s current system, which ties funding to daily attendance. Advocates say the move could deliver more money to nine in 10 schools statewide.

He also backs taxing billionaires to boost education revenue, increasing teacher pay and improving working conditions to address persistent shortages — despite California having the nation’s highest average teacher salary — and using underutilized district land for workforce housing.

Like several other Democrats, Thurmond said he would continue California’s legal and political battles with the Trump administration over threats to withhold federal funding tied to transgender student policies and immigration enforcement on campuses.

Former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, also a Democrat, said she would focus on investing in the education workforce, addressing the teacher shortage, and making school funding more equitable and reliable.

Porter said the state has a responsibility to guide districts and create conditions where students can learn and thrive, including through universal before- and after-school care, free school buses, fully funding and expanding universal school meals, and continued legal challenges to Trump administration policies.

“As a proud public school parent, I understand firsthand the value of investing in public education and protecting it from Donald Trump’s attacks,” Porter said in a statement to this news organization. “As Governor … I’ll take on Donald Trump when he cuts funding for education, including for second-language learners and students with disabilities.”

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, another Democrat, said the system is “broken” and partly blamed what he called a top-down approach and bureaucracy within districts.

Villaraigosa said his role as governor would be to lead “with a light touch,” arguing districts and teachers need more control over education decisions.

He pointed to gains in graduation rates and efforts to turn around struggling schools during his tenure as mayor, though critics have questioned how much progress was sustained.

Villaraigosa opposes school vouchers but supports switching to an enrollment-based funding formula. He said while California has a revenue problem, it also must address spending and grow its economy.

“We are not educating our kids in the way that we should,” Villaraigosa said. “Information is the currency of our economy, and yet we have too many kids who can’t read and write. And when you look at who those kids are, they’re disproportionately poor, they’re disproportionately of color, and it’s unacceptable in a state this rich that we have that situation.”

Ian Calderon, a former Democratic Assembly member and the youngest candidate at 40, said California’s education system is failing because of a one-size-fits-all approach across its 1,015 school districts.

Calderon said educators need a greater role in decision-making, parents must be more involved, and student success depends on broader stability, including access to secure housing.

He also called for tax reform to create alternative sources of education funding.

“We cannot continue to base the future of our funding on a volatile income tax system,” Calderon said.

Former State Controller Betty Yee, also a Democrat, agreed the state must move away from a one-size-fits-all model, arguing California’s economic health is inseparable from student achievement.

Yee said the state’s current school funding formula is too rigid and needs reform, and pledged to veto legislation that imposes new mandates without providing funding.

She attributed the teacher shortage partly to high housing and health care costs, but said districts should not be responsible for developing workforce housing.

“I do not want school districts to be landlords,” Yee said.

East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat who entered the race in November, did not respond to multiple requests for comment about his education platform.

Republicans

Republican candidates, by contrast, largely argue that California’s education problems stem from centralized control, cultural priorities and excessive state mandates.

Among them is Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who has campaigned on increased funding for teachers and schools, expanded mental health counseling for students, support for career-technical education and stronger parental rights.

Bianco has argued for returning control to local school districts, a stance that contrasts with Newsom’s proposal to restructure the state’s Department of Education by placing it under the governor’s office and the State Board of Education.

Bianco also supports expanding charter schools and school vouchers, which allow public funds to be used for private school tuition. He is a vocal critic of a state law that bars districts from being forced to notify parents if a student changes pronouns or gender identity at school.

“It is no secret that California has failed an entire generation — if not two — of our students,” Bianco said.

Also running as a Republican is former Fox News host Steve Hilton, who says his priority is ensuring students meet reading and math standards while removing what he calls “social and political indoctrination” from classrooms.

Hilton supports expanding school choice, enforcing parental rights, removing underperforming teachers, and allowing students to attend schools outside their neighborhoods, often using public education funds to do so. He also opposes allowing transgender students to compete in women’s sports.

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California

2 Northern California universities made U.S. News ‘Best Global’ list

Published

10 hours ago

June 19, 2026

Press Room

2 Northern California universities made U.S. News ‘Best Global’ list

To the surprise of perhaps no Californians, several California universities appeared in the top rankings of the world’s best universities in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings released on June 16.

Of the more than 2,250 worldwide research institutions that U.S. News & World Report evaluated for this list, six California universities ranked in the top 50 globally, with an even split among Northern and Southern California institutions.

The 2026 list includes universities from more than 100 countries, with the following countries receiving the most schools in the overall rankings:

China: 409
United States: 275
India: 123
United Kingdom: 93
Japan: 86

Did your California alma mater appear among the top global universities?

U.S. News and World Report methodology

When determining a university’s placement on the list, U.S. News & World Report considered factors more relevant to research-oriented institutions than to undergraduate-focused metrics like bachelor’s degree graduation rates.

It focused on aspects like academic institutions’ research and reputation, number of publications, the quality of publications and citations. It considers other factors, including location, campus culture, the strength of particular programs, and cost, which are also very important.

“For students seeking universities with strong academic excellence and global recognition, the Best Global Universities rankings offer an essential comparative resource,” said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor for Education at U.S. News.

“Our methodology focuses on a school’s research mission and scholarly impact, helping students identify institutions that are truly at the forefront of global knowledge creation.”

Out of the top 10 global universities, two California institutions made the list:

Harvard University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Stanford University
University of Oxford
University of Cambridge
Tsinghua University
University of California Berkeley
Yale University
University College London
Columbia University

How did California colleges rank in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Global Universities 2026 list?

Outside of the top 10 universities, California saw a handful of other institutions rank highly on U.S. News & World Report list.

Notably, the University of California – Los Angeles just missed the top 10 list, ultimately ranking as the 11th-best global university and the second-best public institution on the list. It was beaten out as the best public institution by its academic counterpart, the University of California, Berkeley, which was ranked the 7th-best global university.

Additionally, a number of University of California schools made the top of the list, ultimately reaffirming the quality of the institutions’ public campuses across the state.

“Research from the University of California is vital to work that benefits all Americans, from breakthroughs in the treatment of Parkinson’s to the science behind previously unimagined successes in fighting cancer and the development of quantum computers that will enable the critical advances of the 21st century,” the University of California said in a press release about its rankings.

Here’s the list of California universities that made the top 100 list:

3. Stanford University
7. University of California Berkeley
11. University of California – Los Angeles
22. University of California – San Francisco
23. (Tied) California Institute of Technology
23. (Tied) University of California – San Diego
74. University of Southern California
95. University of California – Davis
99. University of California – Irvine
100. University of California – Santa Barbara

Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him at npadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social. Sign up for the TODAY Californian newsletter or follow us on Facebook at TODAY Californian.

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California

Is California’s ‘Big One’ coming soon? Maps show growing danger.

Published

20 hours ago

June 19, 2026

Press Room

Is California’s ‘Big One’ coming soon? Maps show growing danger.

The most significant seismic event in California’s history – an earthquake of 7.9 magnitude – occurred in 1857 and ruptured about 225 miles on the San Andreas Fault. That earthquake, dubbed the last “Big One,” killed two people and produced shaking that lasted between one and three minutes.

Since then, California has exploded in population and been has been rattled by many major earthquakes. But Californians have also grown familiar with the existential dread of another “Big One” looming.

Researchers have long warned there will be another massive earthquake in Southern California. They just don’t know when.

A recent study says warning signs continue to grow in 2026. The San Andreas and San Jacinto fault systems have reached the highest stress levels seen in the past 1,000 years, according to a study conducted at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

The San Andreas fault runs throughout the state, passing through San Francisco and San Bernardino, while the San Jacinto fault is in Southern California and runs through Riverside, San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them.

Why the San Andreas Fault is so risky

Faults rupture on the San Andreas Fault approximately every 150 years, according to UCLA professor Jonathan Stewart, who studies earthquake engineering.

But it’s been over 300 years since the last “large rupture” occurred south of the 1857 Fort Tejon earthquake, Stewart said. “As far we know it didn’t produce a large rupture since around 1690. To the present that’s a lot more than 150 years, so there’s a lot of build-up. That doesn’t mean it’s going to happen immediately, it just means there is more stress built-up.”

When the earthquake happens, it is likely to cause a lot of damage. One major concern is the state’s water systems.

“An earthquake like this would rupture most, if not all of the major aqueducts bringing water into Southern California,” Stewart said. “Most people will not be in a collapsed structure after this earthquake, but everybody’s going to be affected by water problems.”

Study highlights longstanding risk

To investigate the probability of an earthquake occurring, researchers built a physics-based simulation and fed it the earthquake history from the region. By doing so, they were able to estimate how much stress has built up along the southern San Andreas and San Jacinto fault systems.

The results suggest that catastrophe may be near.

“Right now, with stress at historically high levels across the region and more than 160 years elapsed since the last major rupture, the system is in a critically loaded state,” lead author Liliane Burkhard said.

Most importantly, the Cajon Pass, at the junction of the San Andreas and San Jacinto faults, could facilitate a joint rupture of the two faults. This scenario, according to the study, would probably be “significantly more damaging” than a single-fault event.

How is earthquake safety considered?

Seismic hazard assessments are critical for the safety of the millions of residents in California’s densely-populated and earthquake-prone areas.

Seismic Hazard maps show the relative hazard associated with earthquakes using information on past faults, the behavior of seismic waves and the near-surface conditions of specific locations, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Larger values indicate a stronger level of earthquake shaking. A peak ground velocity of 269 cm/sec would correspond to extreme shaking and heavy damage. For reference, the largest ground velocity recorded in Taiwan’s 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake reached 318 cm/sec and had a magnitude of 6.7.

That earthquake killed more than 2,000 people and incurred approximately $14 billion in damage.

How do the fault lines rupture?

The San Andreas and San Jacinto faults are strike-slip faults, which typically cause horizontal displacement. Both faults comprise the geologic boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate.

If a major earthquake occurs on the San Andreas fault, it is likely to produce surface rupture, which occurs when a fault breaks through to the surface. Most earthquakes, however, do not produce surface rupture, according to USGS.

In a major rupture, strong shaking could cause severe damage near the fault and in areas built on soft or water-saturated soils, which can amplify shaking. Rupture can directly offset roads, buildings, and other structures that span the fault trace.

Although the study helps explain the risk associated with the California fault lines, Burkhard emphasized that it shouldn’t serve as a forecast.

“This is not a prediction of when an earthquake will happen,” Burkhard said. “However, studies like this are important contributions to national and global earthquake hazard research in that we are using rigorous, quantitative science to better understand the risk facing millions of people.”

Contributing: Brandi D. Addison, USA TODAY NETWORK

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California

California lawmakers seek $32M to combat invasive pest found on grapevines sold at Costco

Published

1 day ago

June 18, 2026

Press Room

California lawmakers seek M to combat invasive pest found on grapevines sold at Costco

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (FOX26) — California lawmakers are now asking the federal government for more than $32 million in emergency funding to stop the spread of an invasive insect that was recently discovered on grapevines sold at Costco stores across the state.

The request comes about a month after Fresno County agricultural officials discovered grapevine plants infested with the glassy-winged sharpshooter, a pest capable of spreading Pierce’s Disease, a deadly infection that can kill grapevines.

In a letter sent to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla joined Reps. Mike Thompson, David Valadao and other members of California’s congressional delegation in requesting $32.2 million in emergency funding to contain and eradicate the pest.

[RELATED] Fresno County grapevine plants shipped to Costco were infested with bugs

Lawmakers say the infected nursery stock was identified Mat 19 by the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office.

The plants had been distributed to Costco stores in more than two dozen California counties before being sold to customers.

Officials believe some of the infested plants have since been transported to homes in at least 38 counties across the state.

The movement of infested nursery stock into and near key grape-producing regions, including areas critical to California’s winegrape and fresh table grape production, significantly elevates the urgency of this response.

The glassy-winged sharpshooter feeds on grapevines and spreads Pierce’s Disease, an incurable bacterial infection that can destroy vineyards by preventing vines from transporting water.

Lawmakers warned that the pest poses a serious threat to California’s wine and table grape industries.

According to the Wine Institute, California’s wine industry supports 1.1 million jobs nationwide and generates an economic impact of more than $170 billion.

California also produces 99% of the nation’s table grapes, with an annual crop value estimated at $2.59 billion.

If the pest spreads unchecked, the California Department of Food and Agriculture estimates losses associated with Pierce’s Disease and the glassy-winged sharpshooter could exceed $104 million annually.

The requested funding would support emergency response efforts, including tracing the movement of infested plants, surveying affected areas and expanding trapping programs.

Additional funding would also be used for long-term monitoring and eradication efforts over the next several years.

The lawmakers are asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to immediately release the funding through the Commodity Credit Corporation, arguing that the outbreak meets the federal definition of an agricultural emergency.

Growers have already contributed more than $62 million toward research and mitigation efforts over the past 25 years through industry assessments, according to the letter.

Federal officials have not yet announced whether the funding request will be approved.

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