California superintendent – Ahead of California’s Tuesday primary for superintendent of public instruction, EdSource asked eight candidates to answer questions on academic recovery, chronic absenteeism, school funding, and diversity and LGBTQ+ policies—laying out a high-stakes contrast v
By the time Tuesday’s primary arrives, many voters will have already chosen what matters most to their children’s classrooms. For California’s superintendent of public instruction race, the answers are being forced into the open now.
EdSource asked candidates for California superintendent of public instruction to share their positions on key issues ahead of Tuesday’s primary. The questions focused on academic recovery, chronic absenteeism, school funding, and diversity and LGBTQ+ policies.
The candidates who responded are Richard Barrera, Josh Newman, Sonja Shaw, Al Muratsuchi, Nichelle Henderson, Anthony Rendon, Gus Mattammal and Frank Lara.
For readers trying to decide who matches their priorities, the structure of the exercise is simple: pick a candidate, then pick a question. A summary of that candidate’s answers appears after the selection, and a link at the bottom leads to the full, unedited responses.
The timing matters. The race is not only about what candidates promise in broad terms—it’s about how they address the everyday pressures schools say they’re living through right now: getting students back on track. reducing chronic absenteeism. navigating school funding decisions. and defining what inclusion should look like in practice. With the election day countdown in view. the difference between campaign language and concrete positions becomes more visible with each question voters click.
The spotlight. by design. is on the superintendent role in California’s public schools—an office tied to priorities that can shape how districts respond to student needs across the state. For voters still deciding. the candidates’ answers on academic recovery. chronic absenteeism. school funding. and diversity and LGBTQ+ policies are the comparison point that comes closest to matching the responsibilities of the job.
California superintendent of public instruction race EdSource Tuesday primary academic recovery chronic absenteeism school funding diversity and LGBTQ+ policies Richard Barrera Josh Newman Sonja Shaw Al Muratsuchi Nichelle Henderson Anthony Rendon Gus Mattammal Frank Lara
Isn’t this just politicians arguing about inclusion stuff again? I want my kids reading, not word salads.
Chronic absenteeism sounds like a “school choice” problem but they’re blaming the schools? Like if parents didn’t work schedules nobody would be absent… right? Idk, I didn’t read it all.
I clicked the link and it’s basically like “we support LGBTQ+ and diversity” but nobody says how that actually helps test scores. Recovery from what, exactly? And why does the article keep saying Tuesday like that fixes anything.
Superintendent race turning on recovery and inclusion?? Sounds like they’ll just push more programs and call it “recovery.” Meanwhile funding is always the real issue, but they never say where the money comes from in plain terms. Also, chronic absenteeism isn’t always a student issue, it’s transportation/health/parents—so I’m skeptical all these candidates even get that.