California Schools: A Quiet Crisis on the Horizon

The upcoming state budget would spend about $91 billion on public education, plus an additional $60 billion from local and federal sources, to serve nearly six million students. This money is critical because the quality of schooling shapes California’s future workforce and overall prosperity. Yet, despite its importance, the topic has been largely ignored by most governor candidates. During recent debates and campaign ads, contenders focused on gas prices, housing, and homelessness, offering little insight into how they would tackle the education system. Only San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, a former teacher, has repeatedly mentioned schooling plans. The state constitution requires a minimum share of the budget for schools, but Governor Newsom’s latest proposal falls short by billions. School groups, led by the powerful California Teachers Association, have opposed this cut and pushed for increased revenue. If the current plan passes, it would also strip the office of state superintendent of public instruction, giving the governor almost total control over education.A Stanford University study shows California’s public schools lag behind national trends: reading scores have dropped in 83 % of districts and math scores in 70 %. California ranks among the worst states for reading decline, with only eight other states and Washington D. C. experiencing deeper drops. The state has recently started adopting phonics-based reading instruction and is moving toward legislation that would diagnose and treat math learning gaps. These are steps in the right direction, but more comprehensive strategies are needed. Voters should demand concrete plans from candidates: How will they increase funding, improve teacher quality, and ensure students reach state standards? Without clear answers, California risks leaving its schools—and its future—behind.