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California education funding reform |
California's 2026 Superintendent of Public Instruction race is exposing deep disagreements over the future of public education, with candidates Richard Barrera and Sonja Shaw taking opposing positions on parental rights, school policies and student performance.
Despite their political differences, however, both candidates have identified one issue where they share common ground: California's approach to funding public schools needs reconsideration.
The discussion comes as school districts across the state continue to experience declining student enrollment, increasing financial pressures and concerns about the long-term sustainability of existing education policies.
At the centre of the debate is whether California should move away from its attendance-based school funding system and adopt a model that allocates funding according to student enrollment.
Why California's School Funding Formula Is Under Pressure
California currently uses daily student attendance as a major factor in determining how much funding public school districts receive.
Under this arrangement, the number of students physically attending school can influence the financial resources available to districts.
However, declining enrollment and persistent absenteeism have raised questions about whether the existing approach adequately supports schools.
Richard Barrera, president of the San Diego Unified School Board, supports moving towards enrollment-based funding. He argues that such a system would provide districts with more predictable financial resources, making it easier to plan budgets and maintain educational services.
Sonja Shaw, president of the Chino Valley Unified School Board, also supports reconsidering the existing arrangement.
Her position is that school districts must maintain staffing, facilities and educational services regardless of how many students attend classes on a particular day.
Nevertheless, changing the funding formula may not automatically solve California's wider education funding challenges.
Experts Question Whether Enrollment-Based Funding Is Enough
Although the two candidates agree that reform is necessary, education policy experts have warned that changing the funding calculation may not produce the financial improvements many districts expect.
Carrie Hahnel, a partner at education policy research organisation Bellwether, argues that declining student numbers remain a fundamental challenge regardless of whether funding is calculated using enrollment or attendance.
According to her assessment, changing the formula could temporarily benefit certain districts, but it would not necessarily increase the overall amount of money available to public education.
California's Proposition 98, established in 1988, guarantees a substantial portion of state funding for public schools and community colleges.
Consequently, adjustments to the funding formula could redistribute existing resources rather than create additional funding.
This raises an important question for policymakers: Should California prioritise predictable funding for school districts, or focus on broader reforms that address declining enrollment and educational outcomes?
Parental Rights and Title IX Deepen Political Divisions
While education funding provided an area of agreement, the candidates disagreed sharply on several politically sensitive issues during their recent debate.
One major disagreement concerned parental notification policies involving students who change their gender pronouns at school.
Barrera criticised Shaw's support for her district's legal challenge to California's 2024 law restricting schools from notifying parents about certain student gender identity changes without the student's consent.
He argued that education leaders should prioritise student welfare, educational achievement and inclusive learning environments instead of allowing political controversies to dominate public education.
Shaw, meanwhile, defended her position by emphasising parental involvement and concerns surrounding Title IX protections and transgender participation in school sports.
The exchange demonstrated how questions about parental authority, student privacy and gender-related school policies have become significant issues in California's education leadership contest.
Who Are Richard Barrera and Sonja Shaw?
The candidates are presenting different leadership experiences and priorities as they seek to lead California's public education system.
Richard Barrera
Barrera is a Democrat and president of the San Diego Unified School Board. First elected to the board in 2008, he has a background in community organising and education policy.
He highlights improvements in graduation rates, reductions in absenteeism and progress in college and career readiness as evidence of his leadership experience.
His campaign emphasises educational investment, student support and reforms intended to strengthen public schools.
Sonja Shaw
Shaw is a Republican and president of the Chino Valley Unified School Board. Elected in 2022, she previously owned a fitness centre before entering school board politics.
She presents herself as an outsider seeking significant changes to California's public education system.
Her campaign focuses on academic performance, parental rights, school safety and accountability.
Shaw has argued that declining confidence in public schools is contributing to families seeking alternative educational options.
Declining Enrollment Creates a Bigger Challenge for California Schools
The funding debate is taking place against a challenging demographic backdrop.
California reportedly lost nearly 75,000 public school students in 2025, with projections suggesting that enrollment could continue declining across multiple regions over the coming decade.
Several factors have been identified as possible contributors, including lower birth rates, rising housing costs and changing population patterns.
Chronic absenteeism is another major concern.
Although absenteeism has improved from its pandemic-era peak, the problem continues to affect a significant number of California students.
For school districts, these developments create a difficult financial environment. Fewer students can mean reduced funding, while the costs of maintaining school buildings, employing teachers and delivering essential services do not necessarily decline at the same rate.
This makes long-term financial planning increasingly important.
Could Changing the Funding Formula Affect Student Attendance?
Not everyone believes that an enrollment-based model would be beneficial without potential disadvantages.
California's Legislative Analyst's Office previously examined the proposal and identified both advantages and possible risks.
An enrollment-based system could offer greater financial predictability for school districts. However, policymakers must also consider whether removing attendance from funding calculations could weaken incentives to improve student attendance.
The report estimated that implementing such a change could require committing approximately $6 billion to school districts, potentially reducing lawmakers' flexibility in allocating education resources.
Education experts have questioned whether the attendance argument should prevent reform, noting that schools have an independent responsibility to encourage students to attend and participate in learning.
The challenge is finding a funding arrangement that supports schools financially without overlooking student engagement and educational accountability.
What Happens Next in California's Education Leadership?
The superintendent's race is also unfolding during a significant restructuring of California's education administration.
Under an agreement involving the governor and state legislature, the governor elected in November 2026 will appoint a commissioner to lead the Department of Education, changing the responsibilities traditionally associated with the superintendent's office.
This development adds another dimension to the election, as the next superintendent will face questions about the authority, influence and future direction of the position.
For Barrera and Shaw, the challenge is therefore not simply winning an election. It is presenting a credible vision for California's public schools during a period of financial, demographic and political change.
Conclusion: California Needs More Than a Funding Formula Change
The agreement between Richard Barrera and Sonja Shaw on school funding reform highlights an important issue that extends beyond their political differences.
California's public education system faces interconnected challenges involving declining enrollment, absenteeism, financial planning, parental confidence and student achievement.
Moving towards enrollment-based funding could provide greater budget stability, but it may not address the underlying causes of declining student numbers or improve educational outcomes on its own.
Ultimately, California's next education leadership will need to look beyond how school funding is calculated and develop sustainable policies that ensure students receive quality education while districts remain financially stable.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is running for California Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2026?
Richard Barrera, a Democrat, and Sonja Shaw, a Republican, are among the candidates involved in the 2026 superintendent race.
2. What is California's current school funding system?
California uses a funding framework that includes daily student attendance in determining the amount of financial support allocated to school districts.
3. What is enrollment-based school funding?
Enrollment-based funding allocates financial resources according to the number of students registered in a school or district rather than relying primarily on daily attendance figures.
4. Why does California want to reform its school funding formula?
Declining enrollment, absenteeism and financial uncertainty have increased calls for a funding system that gives school districts more predictable resources.
5. Who are Richard Barrera and Sonja Shaw?
Barrera is president of the San Diego Unified School Board, while Shaw is president of the Chino Valley Unified School Board.
6. What is Proposition 98?
Proposition 98 is a California constitutional funding framework established in 1988 that guarantees a minimum level of funding for public schools and community colleges.
7. Why is school enrollment declining in California?
Factors discussed by education leaders include lower birth rates, housing affordability challenges and population changes.
Editorial Note: This article is an independently written news analysis based on the supplied reporting and cited policy discussions. Readers should consult the original documents and official election information for further details.
