California schools get a new boss under Newsom’s budget deal

California schools get a new boss

California is changing who manages the state education department under a budget deal backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders. Beginning Jan. 15, 2027, a governor-appointed, Senate-confirmed director of education will assume responsibility for running the California Department of Education.

The elected state superintendent will remain in office but will shift into a different role focused on public advocacy, evaluation, and education oversight. Supporters say the change creates clearer accountability, while critics call it an undemocratic transfer of power away from voters.

Why change something so old?

Governor Gavin Newsom’s plan to shift control of the California Department of Education isn’t coming out of nowhere. Studies have recommended this change for decades. Right now, California is one of only 12 states where voters elect the person who runs the education department.

The current system splits authority between the governor and the superintendent. The governor creates programs, but the superintendent implements them. Supporters say this leads to confusion and poor oversight. Newsom argues that unifying control will make schools run more smoothly.

The Superintendent gets a new job

Under the new structure, the state superintendent will no longer manage the California Department of Education. The elected office will instead become an independent public voice, evaluator, and oversight figure within the state’s education system.

The superintendent will also become a voting member of the State Board of Education and the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. Supporters say that preserves an independent role, while opponents argue voters elected the superintendent to run the department, not to lose its core authority.

The new education director

Starting Jan. 15, 2027, a new director of education will take over management of the California Department of Education. The governor will appoint the director, and the state Senate will confirm the appointment.

The change brings CDE management closer to the structure used for many other state departments, where directors are appointed and confirmed rather than elected. The director will oversee the department’s operations, including major state education programs and administrative responsibilities.

Teachers’ union fights back hard

The California Teachers Association has criticized the education-governance change, saying it was pushed through budget negotiations rather than the standard legislative process. CTA President David Goldberg objected to the timing and process, while opponents argued that voters expected the next superintendent to retain real authority over the department.

The union remains highly influential in California education politics and claims to represent 310,000 members. The new structure could reduce the direct political stakes of the superintendent race because the elected superintendent will no longer manage the California Department of Education.

Fun fact: The CTA has 310,000 members, making it one of the largest teachers’ unions in the country. Their political endorsements have helped determine who becomes state superintendent for decades.

What are education experts saying?

The Stanford-based Policy Analysis for California Education group recommended this change in a detailed report last December. They said California’s education governance system is fragmented and confusing.

PACE Executive Director Lupita Cortez Alcalá called the reform one of the most significant education governance reforms in California’s history. She praised the new law for recognizing that improving education requires clear leadership, not just more money. Many independent researchers have been pushing for this type of change for years.

Fun fact: The PACE report was 94 pages long and involved faculty from Stanford, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UCLA, and USC, some of the top education researchers in the country.

The compromise that made it happen

The final deal isn’t exactly what Newsom originally proposed. Two Democratic Assembly members from San Diego, Darshana Patel and David Alvarez, wrote their own version of the bill. They added requirements that the Senate confirm the new director and that the Legislature get more say in the process.

The compromise also expands the State Board of Education from 11 to 13 members. The Senate president and Assembly speaker each get to appoint one new member. This gives lawmakers more influence over education policy. Supporters say this makes the system more balanced. Critics still say the whole thing was rushed through budget negotiations.

Will school programs work better?

Supporters say the change could make state education programs easier to manage. They point to confusion around major initiatives such as transitional kindergarten, school improvement efforts, and other state programs that require coordination between Sacramento and local schools.

Under the new system, the director of education will be responsible for managing CDE operations, giving the governor clearer accountability for implementation. Whether that leads to better student outcomes will depend on how the new structure is carried out.

Candidates for Superintendent say no

The 2 candidates headed to the November runoff for state superintendent, Sonja Shaw and Richard Barrera, have both criticized the reduction of the office’s authority. Shaw, president of the Chino Valley Unified School Board, called the bill an unprecedented and unconstitutional power grab.

Barrera, president of the San Diego Unified school board, said he needed time to review the details but remained focused on bringing students, parents, educators, and other stakeholders together around fully funded schools. Their opposition adds political tension to the major change they are seeking in the office.

The budget deal that made this possible

This education reform was attached to California’s 2026-27 budget deal. Lawmakers had to approve the budget by July 1, which gave the proposal a fast track. Newsom and legislative leaders announced the agreement on June 26, just days before the deadline.

The budget is balanced with no deficit this year or next. It includes funding for free school meals, universal preschool, and historic investments for students with disabilities. But the education governance change is the most controversial part.

What do voters actually think?

Public polling on the education-governance change has not been widely released, but the debate raises important questions about voter expectations. California voters chose superintendent candidates in the June primary before the office’s duties were set to change.

Supporters argue voters will still elect a superintendent who can serve as an independent advocate and evaluator. Opponents argue that the elected position is losing its core authority while keeping the same title, raising questions about democracy, accountability, and control of state education policy.

More changes could be coming

This reform is actually just the first step. By June 30, 2027, the new director of education must develop recommendations for further changes. These could affect county offices of education and the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence.

The director will work with the governor and the Legislature to streamline the entire education oversight system. This could lead to even bigger changes in how California schools are managed. Supporters see this as a long-overdue modernization. Opponents worry it’s the beginning of a complete takeover by the governor’s office.

Curious about what else the governor is tackling? Check out California’s wealth tax proposal and the pushback from Newsom. 

What does it mean for California families?

For most parents and students, daily life at school probably won’t change overnight. Teachers will still teach, kids will still learn, and principals will still run their schools. The changes affect the people in Sacramento who make big decisions about funding, policies, and programs.

The real question is whether this reform will actually improve education outcomes. Supporters believe clearer leadership will lead to better program implementation. Opponents fear political interference and less accountability. California families will be watching closely to see if this historic change delivers on its promises or creates new problems.

Want to stay informed about other big developments in California? Check out how Scientists just identified a fault beneath the state with a magnitude 7 earthquake potential.

What do you think about this education shake-up? Drop a comment with your take, and don’t forget to hit that like button if you found this helpful.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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