SACRAMENTO—Today, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond issued the following statement in response to Governor Newsom’s 2026–27 Budget Proposal:
“I am heartened to see that the Governor’s proposed budget includes many important investments in TK-12 education that I have championed, including $1 billion to sustain and expand Community Schools and $4.7 billion in ongoing support of before, during, and after-school programming through the Expanded Learning Opportunity Program. This proposal also includes continued support for my sponsored legislation, Universal Transitional Kindergarten, which establishes a great start for California’s earliest learners, as well as continued support for literacy coaches, reading specialists, and statewide screening for reading difficulties.
While the education funding in this budget proposal represents record per-pupil spending, I believe that this proposal falls short of funding levels and meaningful reforms needed to truly accelerate student achievement. I have announced a five-year literacy plan to support every child in California to achieve reading by third grade, because I believe that we need a comprehensive statewide approach to implement proven instructional strategies and strengthen systems of statewide accountability and support.
I am interested in reviewing the language of the Governor’s proposal on education governance reform, on which neither I nor CDE was consulted. Based on the available information, it appears there are aspects of this proposal that could be beneficial, such as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction having votes on the State Board of Education and on the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. However, my current understanding is that this governance proposal doesn’t establish any structures proven to move the needle on student outcomes and instead shifts authority to implement TK-12 education programs away from the official who California voters have elected to lead our state’s public schools.
I am proud to have worked in partnership with Governor Newsom to create historic investments in TK-12 education during my tenure as your State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and I look forward to our continued work together as we serve the students, families, and educators of California.”