CSBA supports Governor’s proposal to streamline state-level education governance system; calls for even greater alignment and accountability measures

CSBA supports Governor's proposal to streamline state-level education governance system; calls for even greater alignment and accountability measures<_sc3a_dot _xmlns3a_sc="http://www.sitecore.net/sc">

Statement from CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Feb. 3, 2026) - The California School Boards Association (CSBA) supports Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposal to align the California Department of Education (CDE) and the State Board of Education (SBE) under a clearer, more logical leadership structure. CSBA supports this proposal because it strengthens the state's ability to deliver what local educational agencies (LEAs) need most: coherent leadership, consistent implementation and coordinated services that support - not dictate to - school districts and county offices of education (COEs).

The association views this proposal as an important first step away from a patchwork of disconnected programs and toward a unified strategy of support that helps LEAs accelerate overall student performance and close persistent achievement gaps. The proposal's creation of an Education Commissioner appointed by the Governor to manage the CDE is welcomed and provides the Administration with an opportunity to ensure operational continuity and efficiency, provided the Commissioner possesses extensive experience managing large organizations and working in school districts and county offices of education.

For decades, California has operated under a fragmented governance system with overlapping roles, divided authority and unclear accountability. This has produced inconsistency, inefficiency and conflict at the state level and insufficient support for school districts and COEs at the local level. The result is a system that generates state policies and requirements with few means of measuring their effectiveness, no evaluation of the state's own efforts - as opposed to those of local districts that are endlessly scrutinized - and no cohesive plan for boosting student performance or closing achievement gaps.

The Newsom administration has correctly identified a long-standing flaw in California's state governance system, a two-headed structure that has historically produced misalignment between entities charged with leading public education and resulted in confusion and constraints among school districts and COEs charged with educating students. The Governor's proposal moves California closer to the goal of a supportive and coherent structure for state-level education governance by creating clearer lines of responsibility for implementation and support.

The status quo has produced decades of slow progress and persistent achievement gaps. CSBA urges the Legislature to advance this reform and to ensure implementation is guided by a clear goal: building a state system that is coherent, accountable and relentlessly focused on results for students.

Vernon M. Billy
CSBA CEO & Executive Director
California School Boards Association