SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today hosted an informational hearing of the Statewide Literacy Task Force at the California Department of Education (CDE) regarding educational proposals that Thurmond is exploring for the upcoming legislative and budgetary cycles.
Superintendent Thurmond was joined by State Assemblymember Heather Hadwick and State Senator Susan Rubio as well as program-area experts, scholars, school administrators, educators, and school employees to discuss Thurmond’s 2026 education policy proposals:
- The future of the California Community Schools initiative;
- Kindergarten for all students;
- A proposed five-year plan to help students reach literacy by third grade; and
- Efforts to close the learning gap for African American students and Native American students.
In 2025, for the first time in the history of the California School Dashboard, every accountability indicator for TK–12 schools reflects statewide progress. Superintendent Thurmond’s 2026 proposals reflect the need to deepen these investments to accelerate achievement for all students and close persistent gaps in student outcomes.
“We must accelerate the momentum that we are seeing for student achievement in California. By codifying community schools as a core part of our education system, strengthening literacy instruction to ensure all students are reading to learn by third grade, and providing every child with a high-quality kindergarten education, we can address the specific gaps in educational services that hinder student progress,” Superintendent Thurmond said. “Moving the needle for student achievement must remain a priority in the upcoming legislative session and the school years ahead, and we must focus on narrowing the persistent learning gaps that our Black and Native students experience.”
Today’s hearing is one of the initial steps to build Superintendent Thurmond’s legislative proposals in the months ahead. During Superintendent Thurmond’s second term, historic investments in TK–12 education have nearly tripled the level of per-pupil funding since the decade prior. These investments in universal preschool, universal school meals, literacy coaches and reading specialists, and community schools have worked in combination to move the needle on student achievement, even in the face of disruptions caused by political turmoil in Washington.
More information is available on the CDE website about community schools, kindergarten, resources for Black and Native American students, and literacy instruction in California. A video of today’s hearing is available on the CDE Facebook page.