On Presidents Day, The OBSERVER joined a coalition of Black media outlets and education advocates to host a nonpartisan gubernatorial forum focused squarely on one issue: improving outcomes for Black students in California’s public schools.
Students, educators and journalists questioned a broad field of candidates and statewide leaders, including former Assemblymember Ian Calderon; San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan; tech entrepreneur Jon Slavet; State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond; former Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa; Butch Ware, a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara; and former State Controller Betty Yee.
Throughout the evening, candidates faced pointed questions about achievement gaps, chronic absenteeism, school funding instability, campus racism and whether California should overhaul its education governance structure.
Closing The Achievement Gap
Roughly one in three Black students in California meet proficiency standards in English, math or science on state assessments. Moderators asked what specific policies candidates would implement to improve outcomes.
Most cited accountability, literacy, funding reform and community engagement.
Mahan and Slavet referenced what is often called the “Mississippi Miracle,” pointing to that state’s recent gains in early literacy and math.
“You may have heard of Mississippi outperforming California by a better than two-to-one ratio in learning outcomes for Black students,” Mahan said. “The formula is there.”
He said California should adopt intensive literacy coaching, strong accountability measures and early interventions such as tutoring and summer school. He emphasized third-grade reading benchmarks as a critical turning point.
Slavet highlighted Mississippi’s focus on reducing truancy and using public school scorecards to create accountability.
“Principals compete to be the best, and when you compete, there’s a lot of accountability,” Slavet said.
Villaraigosa argued California need not look as far as Mississippi, pointing to improvements in Los Angeles graduation rates during his tenure.
Ware said neither major party has adequately addressed inequitable school funding, arguing disparities between wealthy districts such as Beverly Hills and under-resourced communities like Compton will continue to drive achievement gaps.
Yee said reform must combine short- and long-term strategies, praising recent governance reforms and statewide dissemination of best practices.
Calderon said he would target schools with large achievement gaps, establish measurable benchmarks and ensure Black voices are represented in decision-making roles.
Chronic Absenteeism And Funding
Chronic absenteeism — affecting Black students at rates approaching 30% in some areas — was another focal point. Under California’s average daily attendance model, schools lose funding when students miss class.
Thurmond, who has sponsored legislation to shift to an enrollment-based funding model, said as governor he would sign such a change into law. He argued it could provide schools with $6 billion in more predictable funding while maintaining investments in outreach workers.
Villaraigosa and Calderon also supported enrollment-based funding, though Calderon emphasized fully funding the Local Control Funding Formula.
“A lot of times, you’re punishing kids and families who may not have the resources to get their children to school on time,” Calderon said.
Yee cautioned that simply changing the funding formula would not solve absenteeism without addressing root causes.
Ware warned against criminalizing truancy.
“Criminalizing truancy does not solve the problem,” Ware said. “It creates a hostile environment, especially for Black males.”
Mahan pointed to San Jose’s investments in one-on-one tutoring and Safe Routes to School programs as models. Slavet proposed clear benchmarks and expanded school choice if attendance does not improve.
Education Governance Overhaul
Candidates were divided on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to eliminate the elected superintendent position and replace it with a governor-appointed Secretary of Education.
Mahan and Yee supported the proposal, arguing it would align authority with accountability.
Villaraigosa called for clearer lines of responsibility.
“We do need accountability, and we need somebody in charge,” Villaraigosa said.
Thurmond pushed back, saying the change alone would not improve student performance without additional funding and legislative action.
Ware opposed the proposal outright, arguing it would reduce democratic representation.
Calderon expressed openness to reform but cautioned against replacing one bureaucratic structure with another without clear benefits. Slavet offered tentative support, saying governance reform must be paired with broader policy changes.
Mental Health And Racism In Schools
Nearly half of Black students report experiencing racism at school, according to data cited by moderators. Christophe Davis of Black Students of California United asked how candidates would address mental health and discrimination.
Thurmond cited legislation establishing an ethnic studies graduation requirement and investments in community schools and mental health funding. He also emphasized recruiting more Black teachers and clinicians.
Villaraigosa called for culturally competent school psychologists trained to address racial trauma.
Yee stressed the importance of diverse educators and inclusive school climates.
“We have got to have good school climates and environments that are accepting,” Yee said.
Ware spoke about navigating unwelcoming school environments and called for confronting systemic racism within education.
Mahan and Calderon emphasized anti-bias training and measurable performance standards for mental health services. Slavet framed his response around unity and condemned racism in schools.
Fiscal Instability And Declining Enrollment
With districts such as Sacramento City Unified and Oakland Unified facing fiscal distress, candidates cited declining enrollment, housing affordability and unfunded mandates as key pressures.
Thurmond pointed to long-term population decline and pandemic-era enrollment losses. He said schools must offer attractive programs such as dual-language immersion and STEM pathways.
Villaraigosa and Mahan argued housing affordability directly affects school enrollment.
“When families can’t afford to live in communities, schools suffer,” Villaraigosa said.
Calderon criticized unfunded mandates placed on districts without sustained support. Slavet raised concerns about tenure reform and pension obligations.
“Some people don’t deserve to be educating our kids,” Slavet said, calling for reforms to reward high-performing educators.
Ware proposed broader economic reforms, including addressing housing costs driving families out of school districts. Yee underscored rising operational expenses and the need for economically sustainable communities aligned with workforce opportunities.
Support For Affinity Spaces
All candidates expressed support for Black Student Unions and other affinity groups, which research suggests can strengthen students’ sense of belonging.
Thurmond said he has publicly defended such groups in districts facing backlash.
“California’s diversity is a tradition that we embrace,” Thurmond said.
Calderon, Mahan and Slavet also voiced support for students’ right to create safe spaces, while Ware connected affinity groups to a broader tradition of student activism.