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John Seiler: Grading the top Democratic candidates for state superintendent

May 6, 2026

In the June 2 primary, California’s top-two election system likely will advance Sonja Shaw as one of the finalists for superintendent of public instruction. Although the office technically is nonpartisan, the Chino Valley school board president is a Republican strongly backed by her party.

The other finalist will be one of four well-known Democratic contenders, each a former or current officeholder and supported by different unions. The one who advances will be heavily supported by all the unions and the Democratic establishment.

Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi of Torrance is term-limited in the Legislature. He is backed by the California Federation of Teachers and the California School Employees Association. He did not respond to requests for interviews with the editorial board. I’ll concentrate on the other three Democrats who did an interview with the editorial board.

One of my biggest concerns is the persistently low test scores on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress achieved by California students. Only 48.8% of all K-12 students scored “proficient” or better in English Language Arts, 37.3% in math and 32.7% in science. Black and Hispanic kids continued to score lower in all areas.

That unacceptable performance occurred despite record-high spending. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Jan. 9 budget proposal for fiscal year 2026-27 calls for $27,418 in per-pupil spending. That’s $685,450 for a class of 25 and a 60.8% increase in per-pupil spending in just seven years.

Richard Barrera is the president of the San Diego Unified School Board and is backed by the California Teachers Association, the state’s most powerful union. It’s easy to see why. “We need about 25% more money per student than we currently have,” he said. “And that’s a number that needs to also keep up with the cost of living.”

Citing the Education Law Center’s Making the Grade State Profiles, he said California “always gets an F in the category that they call effort,” which is based on the “percentage of our wealth that goes into our public schools.” However, the center’s December 2025 profile showed the Golden State’s F grade in 2021 jumped to a C in 2023, the last year scored.

And the profile gave this state a B for total spending in 2023, ranked 13th among the states, at $19,894 per pupil. But as noted above, for 2026 that number, going by the governor’s proposal, is $27,418, or 38% higher. No need for Barrera’s 25% increase; or all the tax hikes he backs to make that happen.

On test scores, Barrera said his San Diego district scores higher than the state average. And the new superintendent “should be able to pull districts together in learning communities where they can see these examples of best practices and how we got there.”

Former state Sen. Josh Newman of Fullerton lost reelection in 2024. He is endorsed by the State Building and Construction Trades Council. When I asked about the budget numbers and low test scores, he said, “It can’t just be about money, right?” Despite the increased spending, “we have not seen anything like a commensurate improvement and achievement.”

Instead, Newman stressed reforms should be about focus, accountability and data collecting. Those things “typically have not been getting diligently pursued over the last 10 years.” He said Newsom was “really good at lots of things, putting out big announcements for good people’s attention, but the follow through has been terrible.”

On improving test scores, he said there is evidence for what works in other states. He specifically mentioned the “Mississippi miracle.” Those were the reforms starting in 2013 that, among improvements across the board, hoisted fourth grade reading from 49th among the states to ninth by 2024 on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Instead of merely spending more, Mississippi implemented targeted interventions to ensure kids could read before moving them along.

It’s promising that Newman is aware of the budget limitations and mentioned the Magnolia State as a template.

Former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon of Lakewood is endorsed by the California Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO) and SEIU California, two of the most powerful state unions. “I’m not sure that more money is needed,” he said when asked about school spending. “I think what’s needed is making sure that the existing pot of money is being distributed to schools that need it, in the way that makes the most sense.”

He said it’s time to make sure “the approaches that we’re using have been impactful.” And although the superintendent has only advisory power over the state budget, he touted his seven years as speaker crafting budgets, including through the COVID crisis.

On the low test scores, he said he was “very happy” the state finally adopted phonics statewide, with Assembly Bill 1454, which Newsom signed into law last October. “And I’m looking to visit Mississippi, hopefully, before the primary, to see what they’re doing.”

I just got my ballot and am voting for Sonja Shaw, whom I interviewed earlier. She earns an A grade. As to the top four Democrats, Muratsuchi gets an Incomplete and a call to the truancy officer for not agreeing to an interview. For bringing up the Mississippi miracle, Rendon gets a B and Newman a B+, a little better because he criticized Newsom by name.

Barrera scores an F, but would be a great choice for running New York City’s schools under socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

John Seiler is on the SCNG Editorial Board

Orange County Register

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John Seiler: Grading the top Democratic candidates for state superintendent

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