Latest News & Updates
Labor Powerhouse and Social Justice Champion SEIU California Stands with Richard Barrera for Superintendent of Public Instruction
“California deserves a fighter like Richard at the helm of one of our state’s most important institutions.”
(San Diego) The California State Council of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU California), a statewide labor council and social justice coalition of over 700,000 Californians, has chosen Democrat Richard Barrera as their endorsed candidate for the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. SEIU members include social workers, nurses, classroom aides and other classified school staff, state workers, security officers, college professors, home care workers, janitors, doctors, and more.
“Richard Barrera has shown us what true leadership looks like. He is tireless in his pursuit of quality public schools that offer every young person a pathway to future success,” says Arnulfo De La Cruz, President of SEIU California and SEIU Local 215. “Richard stands on the side of excellence, fairness, inclusion, and empathy. He also respects and rewards those who work on the front lines of education. California deserves a fighter like Richard at the helm of one of our state’s most important institutions – our public schools. He has SEIU’s enthusiastic support.”
As President of the San Diego Unified School District, where he has served on the Board of Trustees for nearly eighteen years, Richard Barrera led a reform movement that transformed San Diego Unified, the state’s second largest district and one of its most diverse, from a district in crisis into a model of success whose students rank first in the nation in reading and math among large urban school districts. Among large California districts, San Diego students also rank number one in graduation rates and college and career readiness.
At the same time, he has acted to ensure that students are free from discrimination, regardless of their immigration status, race, economic background, disability, or gender identity. He has also prioritized investment in front line educators and spearheaded the development of affordable housing for teachers and classified staff on under-utilized school district properties.
“SEIU’s members are the bedrock of our state’s network of support systems, from education to health care to social services to government. They are also extraordinary champions of economic, racial and social justice,” says Barrera. “I am thrilled to have them by my side in this election and in the future as we fight together for a California that is fair, exceptional, welcoming, and prosperous.”
Barrera is also endorsed by the California Democratic Party and the California Federation of Labor Unions. SEIU’s endorsement is part of a growing list of labor and social justice organizations supporting Barrera, including every major school-related union, led by the California Teachers Association (CTA), California Federation of Teachers (CFT), and the California School Employees Association (CSEA). Barrera is also endorsed by the Black American Political Association (BAPAC), Equality California (EQCA), the Environmental Health and Justice Coalition, and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. A complete list of those endorsing Barrera can be found at https://www.barreraforedu.com/641677865886 .
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Barrera is available for one-on-one interviews. Learn more about him at https://www.barreraforedu.com/
For more information contact Dale Kelly Bankhead, 619.549.3140, dkbankhead@yahoo.com
California Federation of Labor Unions Supports Richard Barrera for Superintendent of Public Instruction
(San Diego) The California Federation of Labor Unions (CFLU), AFL-CIO, has chosen Democrat Richard Barrera as its endorsed candidate for the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in November’s General Election. CFLU is made up of more than 1,300 affiliated unions, representing 2.3 million union members in manufacturing, retail, construction, hospitality, public sector, health care, entertainment and other industries. CFLU mobilizes 20,000 union volunteers every election cycle to talk to voters and identify their endorsed candidates.
“California Labor is backing the only qualified candidate for SPI on the ballot who will invest in the workers who make California schools run, protect our education system from federal attacks, and support the next generation of young people who deserve a world-class public education,” says Lorena Gonzalez, President of the California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO.
Richard Barrera is the President of the San Diego Unified School District, where he has served on the Board of Trustees for nearly eighteen years. He is currently in his fifth term as Board President. During his tenure, Barrera led a reform movement that transformed San Diego Unified, the state’s second largest district and one of its most diverse, from a district in crisis into a model of success whose students rank first in the nation in reading and math among large urban school districts. Among large California districts, San Diego students also rank number one in graduation rates and college and career readiness.
In order to achieve these results, Barrera prioritized investment in front line educators over administrative overhead and outside consultants. The district increased salaries by fifty percent during his tenure, while maintaining paid family health benefits at no cost to district employees. He has also spearheaded the development of affordable housing for teachers and classified staff on under-utilized school district properties.
Barrera says, “I am grateful to have the support of my brothers and sisters in labor, who are the cornerstone of California’s economy, the fourth largest in the world. This is an honor I will wear with pride.”
Barrera is also endorsed by the California Democratic Party. CFLU’s endorsement caps a growing list of labor organizations supporting Barrera including every major school-related union, led by the California Teachers Association (CTA), the California Federation of Teachers (CFT), and the California School Employees Association (CSEA). Also endorsing Barrera are the Service Employees Union California (SEIU CA), the United Domestic Workers (UDW), the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, and the California Professional Firefighters. A complete list of those endorsing Barrera can be found at https://www.barreraforedu.com/641677865886 .
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Barrera is available for one-on-one interviews. Learn more about him at https://www.barreraforedu.com/
For more information contact Dale Kelly Bankhead, 619.549.3140, dkbankhead@yahoo.com
California Professional Firefighters Back Richard Barrera for Superintendent of Public Instruction
(San Diego) The 38,000 members of California Professional Firefighters have endorsed Democrat Richard Barrera in the November General Election for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. CPF represents critical first responders, including firefighters and emergency medical service personnel across the state of California.
CPF President Darrell Roberts said, “Richard Barrera has been a key partner in promoting our profession through his work at the San Diego Unified School District to ensure that high school students are offered a robust pathway into the field of emergency response, including courses in fire protection and emergency medical technology. The State Superintendent is also a member of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges and an ex-officio member of the California Apprenticeship Council, where future firefighters will benefit from his experience in developing career pathways. We are confident that he will be a voice for strengthening training and recruitment for our profession in those roles. Moreover, Richard has demonstrated a strong commitment throughout his career to workplace health and safety and job and retirement security. As Superintendent of Public Instruction, he will continue to be a leader on behalf of the vital public safety and emergency response personnel we represent. Richard has our enthusiastic support.”
“Firefighters and emergency medical professionals are among the most highly respected and valuable first responders in our state,” says Barrera. “I am deeply honored by their support in the upcoming November election. As Superintendent, I look forward to a continued partnership with CPF to grow strong and effective career pathways into these vital professions and to ensure that those who serve us in these demanding roles are safe on the job and well rewarded for putting their lives on the line for us all.”
Richard Barrera is President of the Board of Trustees of the San Diego Unified School District and has served on the Board for almost two decades. During that time, he led a reform movement that took a district in crisis to one that ranks first in the nation in reading and math among large urban school districts, improved graduation rates, and prepares students for adult life, whether in college or by going directly into the workforce.
Barrera is endorsed by the California Democratic Party. He outpaced a large field of other Democratic candidates in the June primary to advance to November’s general election. The endorsement of California Professional Firefighters is the latest in a post-primary groundswell of support for Barrera. A complete list of those endorsing can be found at https://www.barreraforedu.com/641677865886 .
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Barrera is available for one-on-one interviews. Learn more about him at https://www.barreraforedu.com/
For more information contact Dale Kelly Bankhead, 619.549.3140, dkbankhead@yahoo.com
California’s Building and Construction Workers Back Barrera for Superintendent of Public Instruction
(San Diego) The State Building and Construction Trades Council of California has chosen Democrat Richard Barrera as their endorsed candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction in the upcoming November election. This umbrella organization represents construction industry workers from 157 affiliated unions, 22 local building trades councils and 125 Joint Apprenticeship Training Committees.
“Construction workers build our state – from airports to bridges to schools,” says Barrera. “They are truly the backbone of our communities and I am honored by their endorsement. From almost the moment I was sworn in as a trustee for the San Diego Unified School District nearly twenty years ago, I worked with the San Diego Building Trades Council to create the first ever Project Labor Agreement for an education district in San Diego County. PLAs ensure that work on the buildings our students attend daily is completed on time and within budget by fully qualified construction experts.”
Barrera’s partnership with the Building Trades has resulted in voter approval of $11.6 billion in taxpayer bonds for San Diego to replace aging schools with state-of-the-art, environmentally sustainable facilities. In addition, Barrera spearheaded efforts to convert under-utilized public school properties into affordable housing for school employees, creating nearly 350 housing units on the sites of former elementary schools, with five additional properties on track to create at least 1,500 affordable homes. Barrera also facilitates the creation of workforce housing throughout the state in his role as Senior Advisor to the current State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond.
A Project Labor Agreement (PLA) is a pre-hire commitment by a contractor or public agency that guarantees livable wages, contains no-strike and no-lockout provisions that prevent project delays, and provides a clear process for resolving disputes. PLAs ensure that the workers who build publicly-funded projects receive fair wages, high quality affordable healthcare, retirement security, and the protection that comes with union representation. Under San Diego Unified’s PLAs, 100% of the construction jobs are designated for residents of San Diego County and 70% are allocated to residents of the school district. 35% of the jobs target people living in high-poverty zip codes, where the majority of the students Barrera represents grow up.
In partnership with the Building Trades, Barrera has also championed enhanced educational and career opportunities for students at San Diego Unified through courses that lead to construction, technical and other apprenticeships.
In addition to the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, Barrera is endorsed by a host of Building Trades labor organizations, including the California State Association of Electrical Workers, the San Diego Building Trades Council, Western States Regional Council of Carpenters, and local unions representing groups such as the Sheetmetal Workers and the Laborers. A complete list of those supporting Barrera can be found at https://www.barreraforedu.com/641677865886 .
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Barrera is available for one-on-one interviews. Learn more about him at https://www.barreraforedu.com/
For more information contact Dale Kelly Bankhead, 619.549.3140, dkbankhead@yahoo.com
Public School Administrators Support Barrera for Superintendent
“A Clean Sweep of the Education Sector for Barrera”
(San Diego) The Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), the largest umbrella organization for school leaders in the United States, has endorsed Democrat Richard Barrera to be the next California Superintendent of Public Instruction. ACSA unites more than 18,000 members of school management teams – from school principals to district superintendents – to advocate with legislators and policy makers on the future of education.
With ACSA’s endorsement, Barrera has made a clean sweep of support from every sector of the education community, including the California Teachers Association (CTA), California Federation of Teachers (CFT), California School Employees Association (CSEA), California Charter School Advocates, and numerous individual teachers, principals, superintendents, and school board members from throughout the state.
“Students in California’s public schools represent the promise and future of our state, and they deserve a leader who believes deeply in their potential,” said Dr. Rene Rickard, ACSA President. “Richard Barrera has spent his career working to expand opportunity and help students succeed. ACSA is proud to endorse Richard Barrera because he brings the experience and commitment needed to strengthen public education throughout California.”
“ACSA members are the captains of our public education community,” says Barrera. “As a school board member in San Diego for almost 20 years, I have had the opportunity to partner with these committed administrators to craft initiatives and solutions to the challenges school districts face. I look forward to sharing the strategies that worked in San Diego that took us from a struggling district to one that ranks first nationally in reading and math among large urban school districts, as well as highlighting the experience and advice of school management teams from throughout the state. I am honored and excited by ACSA’s support of my bid to be Superintendent of Public Instruction.”
Barrera is also endorsed by the California Democratic Party. He outpaced a large field of other Democratic candidates in the June primary to advance to November’s general election. A complete list of those endorsing can be found at https://www.barreraforedu.com/641677865886 .
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Barrera is available for one-on-one interviews. Learn more about him at https://www.barreraforedu.com/
For more information contact Dale Kelly Bankhead, 619.549.3140, dkbankhead@yahoo.com
California Planned Parenthood Endorses Barrera
(San Diego) The Planned Parenthood Action Fund of California supports Democrat Richard Barrera to be the next Superintendent of Public Instruction. PPAC is the non-partisan political advocacy and public policy arm of Planned Parenthood, the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive healthcare for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education.
Planned Parenthood health centers provide millions of people in the U.S. with birth control, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment, lifesaving cancer screenings, and safe, legal abortion. At least one in five women has relied on a Planned Parenthood health center for care in her lifetime.
In announcing the Barrera endorsement Jodi Hicks, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California said, “Planned Parenthood Action Fund supports Richard Barrera for State Superintendent of Public Instruction because he understands that in order to succeed in school and as adults, young people must first be healthy and safe. Under his leadership, San Diego schools have become a model in ensuring that students receive comprehensive, age-appropriate, medically accurate inclusive sexual health education. He also worked with his local affiliate, Planned Parenthood Pacific Southwest, to ensure that students could access reproductive health care confidentially through school nurses and counselors. Throughout his nearly two decades of experience in education, he has stood up time and time again to protect vulnerable student populations, including immigrant communities and trans youth, and their right to access healthcare, education, and the support they need and deserve. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Richard as our State Superintendent where he will take his commitment to student health and safety to every school in the state.”
Barrera, who currently serves as President of the San Diego Unified School District Board of Trustees, outpaced a large field of other Democratic candidates in the June primary to advance to November’s general election. Barrera’s opponent is a MAGA Republican Trump supporter.
Barrera has forcefully opposed efforts by the Trump administration to undermine fact-based, inclusive healthcare; the Republican reign of terror by ICE; and the systematic demolition of the federal Department of Education, including the elimination of guarantees that public education be free of bias.
“Planned Parenthood’s endorsement is a deep honor for me,” says Barrera. “Their work to ensure the well-being of young people is unparalleled. I have been proud to be their partner in ensuring that school curricula and services are accurate, accessible and affordable. The Trump administration’s assault on Planned Parenthood through blocking Medicaid reimbursements and family planning funding is yet another example of the Republican campaign against science, compassion, and fairness. I have fought the Trump agenda in San Diego and I pledge that as State Superintendent I will take the fight statewide and to the nation’s capitol to ensure that everyone has access to quality, affordable healthcare.”
Planned Parenthood Action Fund joins nurses, mental health clinicians, and hospital and clinic staff in endorsing Barrera. A complete list of those endorsing Barrera can be found at https://www.barreraforedu.com/641677865886 .
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Barrera is available for one-on-one interviews. Learn more about him at https://www.barreraforedu.com/
For more information contact Dale Kelly Bankhead, 619.549.3140, dkbankhead@yahoo.com
Association of Essential School Employees Endorses Barrera for Superintendent of Public Instruction
(San Diego) The 250,000 members of the California School Employees Association (CSEA) have chosen Democrat Richard Barrera as their endorsed candidate in November’s race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. CSEA represents essential classified school staff, including those who work in food services, maintenance and operations, office and technical services, transportation, as paraeducators and in a host of other key roles at TK through twelve schools and community colleges.
Association President Adam Weinberger praised Barrera. “As School Board President at San Diego Unified, Richard Barrera has consistently championed our members, who are the backbone of our schools and a vital part of every student’s day. He understands that students learn best when the adults around them are supported, and he has been an essential partner in ensuring that the school employees who care for our students with special needs, who feed our students, who transport them safely to and from school, and who keep our campuses clean, safe, and organized are able to support their own families with living wages and full family healthcare. He knows that a well-supported workforce is what allows classrooms to thrive. At the same time, he has worked tirelessly to make San Diego’s schools, which many of our members’ children attend, world class. Essential school workers and their students in every part of the state can be confident they will have a champion in their corner with Richard as State Superintendent.”
Richard Barrera said, “CSEA’s members are the connective tissue that makes all the other parts of the school community work. I am proud to have earned their support in my race to become the next Superintendent of Public Instruction and I look forward to working in partnership with them throughout the state.”
Barrera, who currently serves as President of the San Diego Unified School District Board of Trustees, outpaced a large field of other Democratic candidates in the June primary to advance to November’s general election. Over more than two decades on the San Diego school board, he led a reform movement that took a struggling district to first place in reading and math among large urban school districts. He has also championed increased pay and full family health benefits for school staff and has been a trailblazer in the current statewide drive to convert under-utilized school properties into affordable homes for district employees. As Superintendent of Public Instruction, Barrera will be a voting member of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges.
In endorsing Barrera, CSEA joins the wave of support for Barrera from all elements of the education community, including the California Teachers Association; California Federation of Teachers; California Charter School Advocates; current Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond; former Superintendent Jack O’Connell; Deputy Secretary of Education in the Biden administration Cindy Marten; and educators, district superintendents, school board trustees and community college board members from throughout the state. A complete list of those endorsing Barrera can be found at https://www.barreraforedu.com/641677865886 .
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Barrera is available for one-on-one interviews. Learn more about him at https://www.barreraforedu.com/
For more information contact Dale Kelly Bankhead, 619.549.3140, dkbankhead@yahoo.com
California Democratic Party Endorses Richard Barrera
“Richard Barrera Embodies Democratic Values”
(San Diego) Richard Barrera is the officially endorsed candidate of the California Democratic Party in the race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Barrera, who currently serves as President of the San Diego Unified School District Board of Trustees, outpaced a large field of other Democratic candidates in the June primary to advance to November’s general election.
Democratic Party Chair, Rusty Hicks praised Barrera’s commitment to the ideals of the Democratic Party. “The California Democratic Party is proud to endorse Richard Barrera for Superintendent of Public Instruction. For the past two decades, he’s been a leader in the San Diego Unified School District, working to ensure every public school is fully funded, well-equipped, and safe for students and faculty. He’s also stood up against Trump and the Republicans’ cruel immigration policies and the decimation of the Department of Education. Richard Barrera embodies Democratic values, and we look forward to helping elect him as Superintendent of Public Instruction in November.”
Richard Barrera said, “As a lifelong Democrat, I could not be more proud to have the support of the California Democratic Party. For almost twenty years, I have led a reform movement at the San Diego Unified School District that took us from being a district in crisis to one that ranks first in the nation in reading and math among large urban school districts. It’s always been about putting values first – commitment and respect for our students, support for our educators and a belief in their expertise, and a partnership with the community that is based on inclusiveness. With the help of the California Democratic Party, I’m ready to share that success with school districts throughout California as State Superintendent.”
Barrera’s opponent is a MAGA Republican Trump supporter. In contrast, Barrera has fought back as the Trump administration has slashed critical education funds and laid waste to the federal Department of Education. Barrera has also forcefully opposed the Republican reign of terror by ICE, which includes targeting immigrant parents when they drop their children off at school.
“I have fought the Trump agenda in San Diego and I pledge that as State Superintendent I will take the fight statewide and to the nation’s capitol,” says Barrera.
The Democratic Party endorsement is the latest in a post-primary unification of support behind Barrera, including Democratic leaders such as United States Senator Alex Padilla and California Assembly Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon. A complete list of those endorsing Barrera can be found at https://www.barreraforedu.com/641677865886 .
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Barrera is available for one-on-one interviews. Learn more about him at https://www.barreraforedu.com/
For more information contact Dale Kelly Bankhead, 619.549.3140, dkbankhead@yahoo.com
Former Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell Endorses Richard Barrera
Jack O’Connell, who served as California’s Superintendent of Public Instruction from 2003 to 2011, has endorsed Democrat Richard Barrera to be the next State Superintendent. He joins incumbent Tony Thurmond in supporting Barrera for an office in which they both have served.
“I am proud to stand with Richard Barrera in the upcoming election for Superintendent of Public Instruction,” says O’Connell. “More than most, I know that the job requires listening to students, families, teachers, and community about what students need and then developing consensus around the best path forward. Richard has an encyclopedic knowledge of the issues facing California’s public schools and the collaborative spirit to bring everyone to the table in the best interests of students. I urge you to give him your vote in November.”
“I am extremely proud to have earned Jack O’Connell’s endorsement,” says Barrera. “As a former school board member, he brought front line experience to the role of State Superintendent, where his work was widely respected. I hope to achieve the same level of success on behalf of students.”
Barrera, who currently serves as President of the San Diego Unified School District Board of Trustees, outpaced a large field of other Democratic candidates in the June primary to advance to November’s general election. O’Connell’s endorsement is the latest in a post-election unification of support behind Barrera, including Democratic leaders such as Senator Alex Padilla and Assembly Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon. A complete list of those endorsing Barrera can be found at https://www.barreraforedu.com/641677865886 .
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Barrera is available for one-on-one interviews. Learn more about him at https://www.barreraforedu.com/
For more information contact Dale Kelly Bankhead, 619.549.3140, dkbankhead@yahoo.com
Nation’s Largest Statewide LGBTQ+ Organization Endorses Richard Barrera to Be Next State Superintendent of Public Instruction
(San Diego) Equality California (EQCA) – with 900,000 members the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization – has endorsed Democrat Richard Barrera for State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
“California’s next State Superintendent must be prepared to defend public education, protect LGBTQ+ students, and ensure every young person has the opportunity to succeed,” said Tony Hoang, executive director of Equality California. “Richard Barrera has spent his career standing up for students and families, advancing policies that make schools safer and more inclusive, and fighting back against political attacks on the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ young people. We are proud to endorse his campaign and look forward to working alongside him to ensure the safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ students in California.”
“I am honored to have EQCA’s support in this election,” says Barrera. “Fighting for the visibility and well-being of LGBTQ+ students has been an important part of my almost two decades of work as a trustee for the San Diego Unified School District. As State Superintendent, I look forward to partnering with EQCA as we work together to ensure that every California student feels safe and valued at school and receives the world class public education they deserve.”
At least 10% of California’s middle and high school students identify as LGBT. These students are vulnerable to rejection, bullying, violence and suicide. Under Barrera’s leadership, San Diego Unified has adopted robust anti-bullying policies, supported Gay-Straight Alliance student clubs, and provided resources for LGBTQ+ students and their teachers and families. In 2011, Barrera was honored with the San Diego LGBT Center’s Harvey Milk Award for his work to stem the alarming rise in suicide among LGBTQ+ youth.
Barrera also serves as Senior Policy Advisor to current State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. He outpaced a large field of other Democratic candidates in the June primary for this non-partisan office. His opponent in the November general election is a MAGA Republican.
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Barrera is available for one-on-one interviews. Learn more about him athttps://www.barreraforedu.com/
For more information contact Dale Kelly Bankhead, 619.549.3140, dkbankhead@yahoo.com
Barrera Demands a Seat at the Table for Educators as the Re-Structuring of the Office of State Superintendent Is Implemented
(San Diego) Democratic candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction Richard Barrera calls on state leaders to include educators in discussions about implementing Assembly Bill 181, a measure crafted by the Governor and the state legislature which transfers management of the California Department of Education from the State Superintendent to an Education Commissioner reporting to the Governor.
“I am running for State Superintendent because I am committed to improving outcomes for all students in every part of the state,” says Barrera. “I have always viewed one of the most important roles of this office to be that of bringing together all points-of-view in the best interest of students. That process just became even more critical and significantly more difficult in light of the flawed process that led to the adoption of AB 181. I call on those who pushed this legislation to bring those representing classroom educators into the process for implementing this bill.”
AB 181 was part of the budget package negotiated between the Governor and legislative leaders over this past weekend and approved by the legislature on Monday. Teachers and school staff represented by the California Teachers Association (CTA), the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) and the California School Employees Association (CSEA) strongly opposed the bill, but were given no chance to meaningfully improve it in the rushed budget negotiations.
“Proponents of this measure claimed that their goal was to align everyone around a common set of goals for student achievement. Unfortunately, the rushed, behind-closed-doors nature of the process has done precisely the opposite,” says Barrera. “I have successfully brought stakeholders with varying viewpoints together many times during my almost two decades on the San Diego Unified School District Board of Trustees and I am committed to the work of fixing the problems and divisions caused by AB 181, beginning today.”
Barrera, who currently serves as President of the San Diego Unified School District Board of Trustees and Senior Policy Advisor to current State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, outpaced a large field of other Democratic candidates in the June primary for this non-partisan office. His opponent in the November general election is a Republican.
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Barrera is available for one-on-one interviews. Learn more about him athttps://www.barreraforedu.com/
For more information contact Dale Kelly Bankhead, 619.549.3140, dkbankhead@yahoo.com
Statement of Richard Barrera on His Win in the June 2 Primary
“A Sharp Contrast on the Future of California’s Schools”
(San Diego) Democrat Richard Barrera holds a commanding lead over his Democratic rivals in the vote count for the June 2 Primary Election for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, making him the clear Democratic front runner for a spot in November’s General Election.
“I am honored to have emerged from a large field of extremely dedicated and qualified candidates to move forward to November. The General Election will offer voters a sharp contrast between my vision of uniting all Californians for the benefit of students versus an approach that seeks to divide us.”
“I have traveled up and down the state listening to parents, students, educators, and community members about what they want from our state’s public education system. They are clearly hungry for the kind of change I achieved during my almost two decades on the Board of Trustees of San Diego Unified School District, where we went from being a district in crisis to one that leads the nation in Reading, Math, and preparing students for college and career. This success was the result of a collective vision of excellent schools shared by a diverse community coalition that I brought together.”
“There is broad agreement among Californians that schools should be safe, supportive places for all students which prepare them for future success. I look forward to sharing San Diego’s successful strategies with every district in the state.”
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Barrera is available for one-on-one interviews. Learn more about him at https://www.barreraforedu.com/
For more information contact Dale Kelly Bankhead, 619.549.3140, dkbankhead@yahoo.com
The San Francisco Chronicle Endorses Richard Barrera for State Superintendent.
California needs a school superintendent who puts kids first. Here’s our pick
By Chronicle Editorial Board, Opinion Staff
May 12, 2026
Richard Barrera has helped guide the San Diego Unified School District to enviable student success results. That track record and a history of standing up to teachers unions and working collaboratively with them make him well-suited for superintendent of public instruction, the editorial board says.
California public schools are not in great shape.
Last school year, just 33% of students met or exceeded state science standards, 37% math standards and 49% English language arts standards. Many school districts are confronting severe budget deficits as enrollment declines, teachers unions push for raises and expanded benefits amid soaring costs of living, and liabilities mount from sex abuse lawsuits. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has sought to withhold nearly $1 billion in funding from California kindergarten through 12th-grade schools and is pushing to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.
It’s imperative that voters in California’s June 2 primary election select a nonpartisan superintendent of public instruction who can meet the moment.
That won’t be easy — in part because no one knows what the job will entail this time next year.
Education policy, funding priorities and academic standards are crafted by the Legislature, the governor and members of the state Board of Education, who are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. The superintendent oversees implementation of policies and leads the California Department of Education, a largely administrative agency that allocates federal and state funding, collects and reports data and ensures districts are complying with state and federal laws.
But that role is facing an overhaul.
Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed shifting oversight of the Department of Education to a newly created education commissioner appointed by the governor. The superintendent would shift to focus on education advocacy and strengthening coordination between the state’s pre-kindergarten to college education systems — and would get a voting seat on the Board of Education.
The state Legislature has indicated it wants to tweak Newsom’s plan. The specifics likely won’t be hammered out until the June 15 state budget deadline.
That means voters must weigh the 10 candidates seeking to replace the termed-out superintendent, Tony Thurmond, without knowing exactly what the job will look like.
So, how do you vote for the unknown?
By selecting a relentless advocate for kids and high-quality education — someone with the knowledge and political cachet to convene elected officials and teachers unions and push them to make the changes necessary to improve schools.
Two candidates stand out.
Josh Newman, a former Orange County state senator who led the Senate Education Committee, described himself in an endorsement interview as a “dead-center,” “uncompromised” candidate who would “advocate energetically” to improve student outcomes, even if it meant taking heat from powerful teachers’ unions that exercise an outsized influence on state education policy.
We’re confident that Newman would follow through on this promise — he’s stood firm against political pressure before. In 2024, he opposed a bill to enshrine the rights of University of California workers in the state Constitution — prompting an influential union to spend more than $1 million in ads attacking him and likely causing him to lose reelection.
But just as a willingness to stand up to unions is important, so too is the ability to work collaboratively with them.
Richard Barrera, president of the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education and a senior policy adviser to Thurmond, is well-positioned to strike that balance.
With nearly two decades of experience governing California’s second-largest school district, Barrera has an encyclopedic knowledge of education policy and a track record and obvious passion for helping students succeed.
Barrera is endorsed by the powerful California Teachers Association, whose preferred candidate hasn’t lost a state superintendent race in decades. This certainly could be seen as a red flag; the union has often seemed more interested in helping its members than in prioritizing kids, such as when it fought legislation to require elementary-school teachers to be trained in the “science of reading,” a phonics-based method particularly effective at teaching early literacy.
But there’s no denying the positive results Barrera has helped achieve in San Diego, which suggests that his top priority is improving student outcomes, not currying union favor.
Barrera joined the school board in 2008, where he helped oversee a strengthening of graduation standards and rates, in addition to a gradual improvement in state test scores. By 2024, San Diego was the state’s top-performing large urban school district in many categories, including English language arts and math proficiency, college and career readiness and chronic absenteeism rates — with continued improvement in many areas in 2025.
Outcomes aren’t perfect, but the district has avoided the steep drops in learning loss that other schools across the state and country experienced post-pandemic. Last year, the state education department identified San Diego Unified’s “marked gains” in math and literacy as a model other school districts could learn from.
Barrera told us that a central component of San Diego’s good outcomes is building trust between teachers, administrators and families during contentious moments “like the budget process and contract negotiations.”
Barrera also helped the district reach consensus on housing. In January, his school board green-lit the most ambitious educator housing blueprint put forth by a K-12 school district. It could produce nearly 3,000 units for school staff on district-owned land, while avoiding affordability mandates so stringent that even teachers don’t qualify for the units — a pitfall that’s occurred in San Francisco and Los Angeles. As superintendent, Barrera could leverage this expertise to help districts facing school closures, including San Francisco, repurpose underutilized facilities and land.
We believe Barrera is uniquely qualified to get diverse stakeholders rowing in the same direction to improve outcomes for kids. He deserves your vote.
Other big names in the race include Anthony Rendon, a former speaker of the state Assembly who spent about 20 years running early education programs. Rendon would bring political gravitas and critical administrative experience to the role. But his campaign seems more focused on fighting the Trump administration than on improving student outcomes.
Assembly Member Al Muratsuchi, D-Rolling Hills Estates (Los Angeles County), led the Assembly Education Committee, is an adjunct professor at El Camino Community College and was president of the Torrance Unified School District Board of Education. But we’re concerned he won’t advocate for kids as aggressively as needed; in 2024, he bent to political pressure and tabled the “science of reading” bill without granting it a hearing.
May 12, 2026
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Fresno Bee, Merced Sun-Star, Modesto Bee, Sacramento Bee, & The Tribune Endorse Richard Barrera for State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
OPINION
Read McClatchy Media’s endorsement for California’s state superintendent | Opinion By McClatchy Media’s California editorial board
By McClatchy Media’s California editorial board
April 23, 2026 5:00 AM
California’s next superintendent of public instruction will inherit a system under real strain and perhaps a job with diminished power.
As part of his 2026-27 budget trailer bill announced in January, Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed moving the California Department of Education, currently overseen by the state schools superintendent, into the executive branch of the governor’s administration. How much power that would leave the superintendent, and whether Newsom gets his way, remain open questions for now.
Meanwhile, surveys have shown that while California teachers are faring better than teachers in other states, many are planning to quit or retire in the next ten years. Enrollment has declined over the past decade, forcing wrenching budget decisions and school consolidations. And student outcomes, though up slightly since 2022, the first year of testing after declines recorded during COVID shutdowns, continue to lag.
The Public Policy Institute of California reported that 2025 assessments showed Black students achieving 33% in English proficiency and 20% in math, far lower than Asian and white students. Latino students didn’t fare much better at 39% in English and 26% in math.
These outcomes are unacceptable, but in California, they get far less attention than labor politics that is focused intently on raising teaching salaries and benefits.
From a crowded field of 10 candidates vying to be state superintendent of public instruction, we endorse San Diego schools leader Richard Barrera for several reasons. We believe he is best positioned to be an effective air traffic controller within a sprawling, decentralized system, who can align Sacramento with local districts and educators around what actually works.
We like that Barrera is running on results as a longtime leader on the San Diego Unified School District board. With 112,250 students, SDUSD is the second-largest public school district in California.
Barrera has helped a diverse, working-class district that is one of the top-performing large urban systems in the country. San Diego now ranks first among large districts in reading and math, with graduation rates exceeding 90%.
But again, labor politics reign supreme in California public schools.
As EdSource reminded us recently, no one has been elected superintendent of public instruction in California for more than 40 years without the support of the California Teachers Association.
And though it had no bearing on our endorsement, CTA endorsed Barrera to succeed Tony Thurmond as state superintendent of public instruction over much bigger names in California politics.
It’s easy to see why.
Barrera helped raise graduation requirements so that all students, including first-generation and immigrant students, could qualify for UC and CSU admission. Critics predicted failure. Instead, students delivered.
But Barrera also focused on the adults in the system. Under his leadership, teacher salaries increased by 50%, health benefits were fully covered and retention soared. More than 90% of teachers remain in the district, far above national averages.
That instinct to listen, to convene, to build is exactly what this job requires. We applaud Barrera for taking care of the teachers in his district, who deserve to be paid well. But for him to succeed as superintendent, no matter what shape the job takes, Barrera must put just as much emphasis on reducing an achievement gap that is leaving Black and brown kids in California behind.
Public education is a foundational pillar for economic mobility and California’s public schools must be just as committed to that principle as it is raising teacher salaries. We must stop failing our kids.
None of this is to diminish the strengths of others vying for this office.
Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi brings a deep understanding of education policy and has been a steady advocate for funding and student support programs. Former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon offers formidable experience navigating Sacramento and shaping complex legislation. And, Gus Mattammal, coming from the private sector, brings a sharp, data-driven perspective and a willingness to challenge the status quo. Any of them could contribute meaningfully to transforming the state’s educational performance.
But Barrera separates himself in two critical ways.
First, he’s already doing the work, not in title but in practice. He has led a large, complex district, advised the current superintendent and built coalitions that translate policy into results.
Second, he brings the temperament the moment demands. This is not a role for a bomb-thrower or a know-it-all. It requires someone who can bridge divides between Sacramento policymakers, local districts, educators and parents.
Barrera displayed that balance in his interview: steely but collaborative, ambitious but grounded.
The next superintendent must help a fractured system pull in the same direction, toward better outcomes for students and a more sustainable profession for teachers.
Jackie Goldberg Endorses Richard Barrera
VISIONARY LOS ANGELES EDUCATION LEADER JACKIE GOLDBERG ENDORSES RICHARD BARRERA FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
Long term progressive education leader Jackie Goldberg is backing Richard Barrera to be the next California Superintendent of Public Instruction. Goldberg, who served for many years on the Los Angeles Unified School Board, where her tenure included several terms as board president; the Los Angeles City Council; and in the California State Assembly, where she chaired the Education Committee, says
“Barrera has the vision, the commitment, and the track record we need in our state’s top education position. He is by far the best choice in this race.”
Los Angeles education leader Jackie Goldberg has long led the fight for adequate funding for public schools.
Goldberg continues, “When I was elected to the State Assembly, my years of experience on the front lines of public education as a 20-year educator and a local school board member were invaluable to helping me craft solutions to the challenges facing our schools that were both aspirational and practical. Richard’s nearly eighteen years as a school board member in San Diego, California’s second largest and highly diverse district, combined with his role as a senior advisor to our current State Superintendent, make him uniquely qualified to pursue and achieve success for students, teachers, and families. Due to his leadership, San Diego schools are safe and supportive spaces and their students lead the nation in academic achievement. We need more of that spirit at the state level.”
In two separate stretches at LAUSD, Goldberg became known for empowering teachers and parents, fighting attempts to privatize public schools, prioritizing students from poor and marginalized families, and advocating for taxpayer investment in safe, modern school facilities. As a leader in the State Assembly, she authored bills to advance school construction and include teachers in the textbook selection process. She has long advocated for adequate funding for public education. “California is a rich state; it is unacceptable that our schools are near the bottom in terms of state spending on students,” says Goldberg.
“I am beyond honored to have the support of Jackie Goldberg, an icon of the progressive education movement and a visionary who believes schools can and should lift up every student, every family, and every community,” says Barrera.””
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Barrera’s 2026 California Democratic Party Speech
On February 21st 2026 Richard Barrera addressed the California Democratic Party delegates in San Francisco, CA.
CTA’s Barrera Endorsement Shows San Diego Unified Is Model for ‘District with Organized Labor as a Copilot’
The largest teachers union in California has officially endorsed San Diego Unified Trustee Richard Barrera for state superintendent. Barrera may have been a dark horse, but the move shouldn’t come as a surprise.
by: Jakob McWhinney
January 26, 2026
SAN DIEGO ( Voice of San Diego) — And just like that, San Diego Unified Trustee Richard Barrera’s campaign for state superintendent is looking serious.
On Saturday, the state’s largest teachers union announced it was officially endorsing Barrera. The announcement came a week after Voice of San Diego broke the news that the California Teachers Association’s board had recommended the endorsement.
A social media post from the union announcing the endorsement reads, “Richard Barrera is a fighter for public school education and unions. He is the best candidate for our students, schools, and communities.”
CTA’s support rewrites the balance of a state superintendent race in which Barrera looked to be a longshot. The longtime San Diego education figure has far lower name recognition than some other candidates, including former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Assembly Education Committee Chair Al Muratsuchi and former Senate Education Committee Chair Josh Newman.
That has also translated to far less in campaign funds raised. The about $78,000 Barrera’s mustered is less than half what’s already been raised by Muratsuchi, Newman, Rendon and conservative Chino Valley Trustee Sonja Shaw.
But with CTA’s endorsement, the challengers’ fundraising head start likely won’t matter. Not only is the union often a top donor in state superintendent races, its endorsement holds considerable sway statewide. The last time a CTA-endorsed candidate lost the state superintendent race was in 1982.
So, why would the 310,000 member-strong union throw its weight behind Barrera, who’s only experience in elected office is a 17-year stint on a school board?
Fellow board member Cody Petterson put it succinctly: “To my mind, this is an acknowledgement by CTA that San Diego Unified is the model of how to run a district with organized labor as a copilot.”
During Barrera’s tenure, he’s established himself as the ideological pillar of San Diego Unified’s board. And for nearly two decades, he has used that influence to help turn the district into a laboratory for progressive and union-friendly policy.
San Diego Unified has led the way on some of the biggest educational changes in the state. Barrera successfully pushed an ethnic studies graduation requirement years before California did. And while California’s requirement failed to launch, San Diego Unified is enforcing theirs.
The district passed a community schools resolution well before the state created its grant program. Officials have since secured grant funding for nearly three dozen district schools.
San Diego Unified is also well ahead of the curve on education workforce housing. The district this week may approve the largest portfolio of affordable employee housing projects on district land that California has ever seen. On that front, though, Barrera actually threw a wrench in the plans’ works.
All the while, San Diego Unified has maintained its status as one of the country’s top-performing urban school districts, even as performance lags behind pre-pandemic levels and its schools are plagued by familiar achievement gaps.
The district has also faced its fair share of controversies during his time.
Marne Foster, a board member recruited by Barrera was taken down by a messy corruption scandal that led to a guilty plea. A recent federal report slammed officials’ handling of sexual misconduct complaints and the district’s most recent superintendent was fired after an investigation revealed he’d sexually harassed multiple former staff members.
Barrera was around for all of those scandals, and more.
Neither the scandals, nor the district’s accomplishments can be fully attributed to Barrera. Since his election in 2008, the composition of the board has shifted significantly. More conservative members have been shed in favor of five progressive trustees all backed by the San Diego Education Association, the union that represents district teachers.
Still, both past and present board members point to him as the architect of much of the district’s big leaps forward.
Former board member Scott Barnett, who, despite his conservative background is forever a Barrera-booster, described him as “the most influential and powerful person the average San Diegan hasn’t heard of.”
To Petterson, Barrera’s outsized influence didn’t come about by chance.
“If you elect someone who’s smarter than your average elected official and keep him on a school board for 17 years, he’s going to take that intellect and capacity and experience and come out of it as an ideologically dominant figure,” Petterson said.
Barrera’s deep labor ties form the foundation of that ideology and the foundation of the deep support – and for some, deep disdain – or him within San Diego.
While an elected school board member, Barrera even served as the head of the region’s Labor Council, a sort of union of unions. The uneasy overlap of duties – a responsibility to advocate for the interests of union members as Labor Council head and a separate responsibility to act in the interests of taxpayers and students as a trustee – led to allegations of conflicts of interest.
Barrera has waved those claims off, and over the years built a close-knit relationship with the local teachers union, which in turn has supported him throughout his tenure. That relationship has been evident in much of what he’s fought for.
In just his first year in office, he supported a landmark project labor agreement that steers the district’s hiring of contractors to union friendly shops. That agreement has been especially impactful because over the past decade voters have approved nearly $10 billion in bond funding. That’s a whole lot of dough for union laborers.
In recent years, he’s helped usher in massive raises for staff – a 17 percent bump over the past three years, even as the district racked up deficits in the tens of millions. Those raises have added to the district’s already enviable health benefits, which fully cover dependents.
San Diego Education Association President Kyle Weinberg is effusive in his praise for Barrera. Weinberg said Barrera is someone they have long been able to count on Barrera as an ally in pushing for “union educator values.”
“To have someone like that at the head of public education in the largest state in the United States is a very powerful opportunity … to push back on the austerity narrative that has been dominant in California for decades and to build coalitions statewide that will effectively advocate for increased funding for our public schools,” Weinberg said.
To his allies, that’s especially true because of the nature of not only Barrera, but of the office itself. State superintendent is a muddled role made up more of soft powers than of concrete ones. The superintendent has no money to throw around and can’t necessarily pass new policy. Instead, it imbues the elected with a sizable bully pulpit that enables them to advocate for issues on a grand scale.
To former SDEA President Lindsay Burningham, that remit may be a match made in heaven for the heavyweight educational powerbroker.
“He had a way of being able to bring everybody together, even people of differing views, that was really impressive,” Burningham said. “He was always willing to do the work that needed to be done to build relationships with people, because those relationships were key to him.”
Those relationships have, little by little, paid off. In 2024, for example, Barrera added a new gig to his resumé – senior policy advisor to Tony Thurmond, the current state superintendent. In that position he’s worked with Thurmond, and district boards across the state, on everything from contract negotiations to workforce housing to driving down chronic absenteeism.
The role also gave Barrera something important for a man pondering a statewide run – more facetime with education leaders across the state and, potentially, more juice.
Still, despite his sterling progressive and union-friendly bonafides aside, the CTA has easier paths to an ideological ally in the state superintendent’s office. They could go with the former assembly speaker, or the current chair of the assembly’s education committee.
Barrera said he thinks CTA’s boils down to his vision for the role, or rather, he and CTA’s shared vision for the role.
“They’ve seen me walking the walk in terms of focusing on educators, the people closest to the kids, as the people who should actually be driving solutions,” Barrera said. “I think the idea that educators can build coalitions to actually change the systems across the state, and that the State Superintendent can play a role in that – I think that’s where their decision has been coming from.”
And Barrera does intend to take on some systemic fights. He’s expressed support for everything from a new tax on the wealthy to increase school funding to continuing the expansion of public schools past the recently created UTK to younger and younger kids. Those are big moves that are likely quite attractive to the CTA, lower profile candidate or not.
To Petterson, his fellow school board member, CTA may not even need to fret about which path to the office is easier anyway. Why try to predict the future, when they can make it?
“CTA is the 800-pound gorilla in the room. They have the luxury of asking themselves, ‘Who do we want to be in this position?’ not ‘Who do we think is going to win?’” Petterson said. “They want somebody across the table who will work with them, understands what they’re talking about and who can deliver and be competent in that role. That’s Richard.”
Fox 5 Report: San Diego Unified Approves Safe Sleeping Site at Former Central Elementary School
Proposal for Safe Parking Site in City Heights Advances
by: Delaney White
October 29, 2025
SAN DIEGO ( FOX 5 KUSI) — The discomfort of sleeping in a car, the worry about danger on the street, and the lack of access to basic amenities. These are the struggles many families with school-aged children across San Diego are facing.
On Tuesday, the San Diego Unified School District Board of Trustees voted to approve a license agreement with the San Diego Housing Commission to operate a safe parking space at the site of the former Central Elementary School in City Heights.
“Now, imagine you’re 6, 7 years old and you don’t know where you’re going to sleep, or you barely got any sleep, or were kind of sleeping with one eye open because you were afraid,” said Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera.
It’s a situation with which he is all too familiar.
“So childhood, we had housing instability. Sometimes it was hotel rooms, sometimes it was family members’ couches,” said Elo-Rivera.
His firsthand experience gave him a unique perspective and motivated him to take action when funding was uncertain – pushing for prioritization of a safe parking space for families.
“We refused to give up until the last moment of the budget,” said Elo-Rivera.
“So the City Council is allocating about half the funding for the program itself, and then the other half is coming from funds that the housing commission and the regional task force on homelessness have available,” said Richard Barrera, San Diego Unified School Board Vice President.
A grand total of nearly $600,000 would fund the program through mid-November 2026.
The San Diego Housing Commission Board will consider the contract with Jewish Family Service of San Diego to operate the program on November 7.
If the contract is approved, the site will also have services to help families get back on track, hosting up to 50 families per night.
“On a typical night, it’s about 50 of our families that are in search of a safe place to park,” said Barrera.
“You know, I just think about being able to have those moms and their kids be in a safe place on the holidays being especially important and we’re motivated to do whatever we can to make that happen,” said Councilmember Elo-Rivera.
Councilmember Elo-Rivera says he hopes this site will host families by Thanksgiving.
SDUSD Board Vice President Richard Barrera Testifies before U.S. Senate HELP Committee
U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR AND PENSIONS (HELP)
SUBCOMMITTEE ON EDUCATION & THE AMERICAN FAMILY
K-12 Subcommittee Hearing on Choice and Literacy: Empowering Families for Better Educational Results
July, 23, 2025
Testimony By:
Richard Barrera, Vice President
Board of Education
San Diego Unified School District
Choice and Literacy - Empowering Families for Better Educational Results
Good afternoon, my name is Richard Barrera, and I am a Trustee on the San Diego Unified School Board, where I have served for the past seventeen years. I am honored to have been elected five times by the voters in my district, representing a portion of the City of San Diego made up of diverse, hardworking families, many of whom are immigrants to this country. San Diego Unified, with over 96,000 students served by district schools and another 17,000 students attending district authorized charter schools, is the second largest school district in California, and among the largest school districts in the nation.
The question before this committee today is a fundamental one for the future of American education.
In order to improve student outcomes, should we increase investment in our public, neighborhood schools, or should we abandon them in order to subsidize private schools?
Our experience in San Diego, backed by decades of research nationally, offers a clear answer. When we prioritize investment in our public neighborhood schools, students perform better and rise to meet their potential. When we take precious resources away from our public neighborhood schools and shift them to private schools, students perform worse across the board, and we end up wasting taxpayer dollars in a way that benefits wealthy families at the expense of all other students.
San Diego Unified offers a compelling case for investment in our public, neighborhood schools. On the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress, commonly known as the "Nation’s Report Card," our District ranked first in literacy among both fourth and eighth grade students compared to all large districts across the nation participating in the Trial Urban District Assessment.
This follows a consistent period in the decade leading up to the pandemic, where San Diego Unified was named the fastest-improving urban district in the nation by the Council of Great City Schools, which represents 69 of the country’s largest urban public school districts. San Diego Unified “blew the socks off” the NAEP exam, according to Great City Schools. “No other city in the country saw gains in both grades in reading and math like San Diego.”
A study by the Learning Policy Institute found students of color in San Diego Unified schools academically outperformed their peers statewide. At a time of widening achievement gaps in the country as a whole, and the State of California, African American students in San Diego Unified were able to beat the odds thanks to their own hard work, the high standards set by school leaders and the resources provided by a school system that is committed to equity. These gains are reflected in better test scores, rising graduation rates and college readiness, and ultimately, we hope they will be reflected in better life outcomes.
The UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools found the gains at San Diego Unified were directly attributable to the added investments San Diego Unified made in high-needs communities. At the same time, San Diego Unified balanced its budget every year and improved its standing in the bond market due to a sound fiscal policy.
Coming out of the pandemic, we have been nationally recognized for quickly getting our students back to pre-pandemic achievement levels.
“The district’s strong performance on NAEP is a testament to the board, administration, and staff remaining steadfast in the pursuit of their goals for improving outcomes for all students in the district,” according to Executive Director of the Council of the Great City Schools, Raymond C. Hart. Preliminary data from the just completed academic year points to record high growth in literacy for our students on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, our state's version of the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments, with particularly strong growth among our Latino and socio economically disadvantaged students.
The success of San Diego Unified's students over the past decade and a half extends beyond literacy rates. We also rank at or near the top nationally on the NAEP in math, and among large urban districts in California, we rank number one in literacy, math, science, graduation and college readiness rates. Our students achieve these outcomes despite significant challenges. 60% of our students are socio economically disadvantaged, 17% are learning English as a new language, and 15% of our students have special needs.
How did we get here, and how will we continue to improve?
We have consistently set high expectations for our students, prioritized investment in our neighborhood schools with the highest needs, invested in our classroom educators, and successfully implemented evidence based instructional strategies.
Key efforts have included:
In 2009, we established completion of the course sequence necessary for admission to the University of California as the default graduation requirement for all students. Despite predictions by some that we were setting the bar too high, the overall graduation rate for the class of 2025 will exceed 90%. We have seen college eligibility rates rise by over 50% for all students, while nearly doubling for Latino and Black students;
We have prioritized resource allocation to our neighborhood schools most in need, allowing these schools to lower class sizes, improve nursing and counseling ratios, and invest in evidence-based practices including literacy resource teachers, time for educators to engage in meaningful professional learning communities, and real time data collection on student progress;
We have invested directly in our classroom educators. Analysis by the California Teachers Association identifies San Diego Unified as a model district when it comes to spending money in the classroom, rather than on district administration, outside consultants and expensive panaceas marketed by Big Tech. Coming out of the recession in 2009 to 2012, educator salaries in our district have risen by nearly 40%, while we have maintained fully paid family health care for our employees. A teacher in our district who began their career two decades ago with a salary under $40,000 per year now earns nearly $130,000 year. The result is that 96% of our teachers return to our district each year, as compared to national data showing more than 50% of teachers leaving the profession within the first five years. That means that when we invest in evidence based professional development strategies that build the capacity of our educators to teach literacy, our students benefit from teachers who get better every year;
Taxpayers in our community have invested heavily in our neighborhood schools. Since 2008, we have passed four local bond measures, each receiving well over 60% voter approval, for a total of $11.5 billion dollars. The result is that our neighborhood schools are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and technology that a send a clear message to our students - we care about you and believe in what you can achieve.
While San Diego Unified's results are exceptional, they are hardly unexpected. Research consistently showsthat when more money is spent on education, especially for students from low-income families, achievement and graduation rates improve, along with life outcomes such as employment and wages. Studies demonstrate that infusions of additional money into schools lead to improved student academic achievement and outcomes later in life and validate that funding cuts lead to a decline in student outcomes.
Contrast this investment strategy in neighborhood public schools with the scheme to siphon off public dollars to private schools. Under the recently passed Reconciliation package, private school subsidies are set to increase by 700%, to $58 billion. The 90% of American children who attend public schools - including 95% of Special Education students - will receive no benefit from this giveaway.
The real winners under privatization schemes are wealthy families, who were already paying for their students to attend an elite school. Early data from states like Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin show that the majority of students – 65 percent to 95 percent – who participate in private school voucher programs never attended a public school in the first place.
Between 70-80% of the students benefitting from voucher programs in Arizona, Missouri, and Wisconsin are already in private schools. A 2023 analysis of Arizona’s universal private school voucher data shows that 52 percent of participating students live in the state’s highest income zip codes, and students in the highest income zip codes benefit ten times more than students in the lowest income zip codes.
Analysis of data from Arizona, Louisiana, and Virginia found more than half of the state voucher tax credits are claimed by families with incomes over $200,000, including 60 percent of families claiming the credit in Arizona, 87 percent of families in Virginia, and 99 percent of families in Louisiana. Taxpayers in these states are subsidizing the students of wealthy families to attend unaccountable private schools, which can - and often do- raise tuition, making it further out of reach for working class families.
The Reconciliation package created the first ever national, private school voucher program, providing a dollar-for-dollar tax credit worth up to $1,700 for individual taxpayers or $3,400 for those filing jointly for donations to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs).
Private schools in my hometown, San Diego, charge between $20,000 and $50,000 per year in tuition. If you give working families in my community a $1,700 private school tax credit, you aren’t giving them a choice. You’re creating a crisis.
Private school voucher programs hurt, rather than improve student outcomes. A study on the Louisiana Scholarship Program, a voucher program, demonstrated a reduction in achievement in reading, social studies among participants. Recent, experimental studies of private school vouchers in Louisiana, Indiana, Ohio, and Washington, D.C. show students experienced significant declines in their academic performance. In one study, the impacts of vouchers on learning loss proved to be worse than the harms to academic outcomes caused by Hurricane Katrina and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inflicting this level of damage to students also turns out to be expensive. The voucher program in Arizona contributed to a $1.4 Billion budget shortfall. It is hard to imagine a less fiscally responsible decision than putting public funds into largely unregulated private entities. Research into the Milwaukee privatization program, for example, found that 40% of private voucher schools failed or closed down within the program’s first 25 years.
It is worth noting that even when parents want to attend an elite private school, those schools are the ones with the real power to choose - not the parents. Private schools are under no obligation to follow federal civil rights laws or admit students with disabilities. They get to pick and choose which students to educate, which often leaves out students with disabilities and the lowest-income students who cannot afford private schools even with vouchers.
Fortunately, voters understand implicitly the unfairness of privatization programs. In contrast to the four bond measures that voters overwhelmingly approved in San Diego over the last seventeen years, since 1967 state ballot initiatives on private school vouchers and school choice have been consistently rejected by voters. Kentucky’s amendment to the state constitution to allow for public dollars to go to private schools was defeated in all 120 counties. According to a 2024 poll, over two-thirds of voters prefer increasing public-school funding over increasing funding for private vouchers, including Republicans voters.
The idea that public schools are afraid of competition is false. In San Diego, we have a robust choice system that allows students to find an academic program that fits their individual needs. We have magnet schools, charter schools, community schools, and traditional neighborhood schools. San Diego also has its fair share of elite private schools, but they are forced to compete against a high-quality public system.
In my community, I've seen that the real choice parents want is the choice to attend a high-quality public school in their own neighborhood. Cindy Marten, our former Superintendent, is now leading school reform efforts in Delaware, so I congratulate Sen. Blunt Rochester and the people of her state on their judgment. As an elementary school principal at an inner-city school in the City Heights neighborhood I represent on the school board, where 100 percent of the students qualify for free and reduced meals, Secretary Marten recognized the importance of investing in the whole child. She concerned herself with whether a child had a home, had enough to eat and access to healthcare, so that every child arrived at school ready to learn. These lessons have a particular relevance to our topic today - literacy–because it turns out that literacy is highly impacted by home life, in things like time spent reading out of school.
This is the kind of caring, compassionate - and high achieving - public school system that I am proud to represent, but we are hardly alone. Thomas Jefferson public high school in Alexandria has the highest SAT scores in the nation; Davidson public school in Reno is the top-scoring high school for the ACTs, and the Bronx High School of Science has produced numerous Nobel Laureates.
Key to our success in San Diego is democratic accountability. I don’t have to tell any of the members of this committee who have served on a school board that we are very close to our community. Voters can elect and unelect us depending on the results we achieve for our students. Privatizing public education would make schools less democratic and less responsive to parents.
I am not here representing a well-heeled, ivory tower think tank, free to pontificate about ideological or political theories unsupported by or even contradicted by real world evidence. I am an elected school board member, responsible for the education of over 100,000 students in my community. Representing my community, I respectfully now hold you, the members of this Committee and your colleagues in Congress, accountable. To improve literacy outcomes for students, you need to do the following.
Fully fund the IDEA to give our students with disabilities, and all of our students, the future they deserve. Fully fund the IDEA - don’t turn it into a block grant for states to use as a piggy bank the way President Trump has proposed in next year’s budget. Since the inception of the IDEA over 50 years ago, you have consistently failed to meet your responsibility to fund 40% of the costs of special education. Today you are funding less than 10%, which means for states and districts across the nation, we are picking up the costs of your irresponsibility out of our general fund. In my district, that means we are spending hundreds of millions of dollars each year that could otherwise provide not only more support for students with special needs, but more support for the strategies that have proven to increase literacy outcomes for all students. A first step towards fully funding IDEA would be to redirect the $58 billion now targeted for the private voucher giveaway to students with disabilities.
Join the 32 Senate Democrats and 10 Senate Republicans who have called on the Administration to release $5.48 Billion dollars illegally impounded in direct defiance of Congress. We should be robustly funding, not removing existing literacy tools like Title II which support professional development for teachers and help improve instruction.
Release the $2.19 billion appropriated by Congress and signed by the President to improve the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders and reduce class size.
Release the $1.38 billion appropriated by Congress and signed by the President to fund STEM education, accelerated learning courses, college and career counseling, school-based mental health services, and improved school technology.
Release the $890 million appropriated by Congress and signed by the President to help English language learners become proficient in English. I remember a time when wanting new Americans to speak English was a bipartisan goal. It should be again.
Release the $715 million appropriated by Congress and signed by the President to help prepare adults and out-of-school youth for success in the workforce.
Release the $376 million appropriated by Congress and signed by the President to educate migrant children, many of whom work alongside their parents in our fields picking the foods that fill our plates at every meal.
These are concrete steps you can take to improve literacy outcomes across the country. There are others.
Keep the culture wars out of our schools. Quit trying to divide us and censor us.
Tell the President to stop making students, and their families, too afraid to come to school. Removing key enforcement guardrails in our immigration system will not make us safer and it won’t improve student outcomes. Can you imagine being a second grade student, trying to learn how to read and at the same time wondering whether your best friend will be in school tomorrow, or whether you will see your parents when you get home? These fear tactics are increasingly stripping parents of their rights to attend school in person, pushing students back into cramped bedrooms where they take classes on laptops. None of us want that.
One last thing to improve our schools - as our young people cry out again and again - do something about gun violence on campus. Do something. I come from the district that was the site of what many consider the first school shooting - the Cleveland Elementary / “I don’t like Mondays” attack in 1979. I walk into every Board meeting past the memorial to the public school workers who gave their lives that day protecting students.
This is what you can do for our public schools, for our children and for our future. You can do your jobs, because the women and men who teach our children every day are doing theirs.
Thank you.