Di Salvo: How will California’s gubernatorial candidates improve education?

On June 2, California voters will cast primary ballots to choose their top two candidates for governor. One of those two will become the next governor-elect in November.

As a retired trustee on the Santa Clara County Board of Education, former teacher, principal and adjunct professor, I am weighing the candidate field on their education agenda. Is there a candidate that has a results-oriented plan to improve student achievement? The solutions cannot continue to be “we must increase funding.”

Funding for pre-kindergarten through community college has doubled in the last 10 years, with no change in results or accountability, and the racial achievement gap has widened. Yet per-pupil funding went from $9,067 in 2014-15 to $17,500 in 2024-25.

Here is a sobering fact.

San Jose’s largest school district, San Jose Unified — enrollment of roughly 25,000 — shows test scores for Hispanic/Latino students at 30.5% for English and 19.6% for math standards, according to a 2025 EdSource report. The data for Black/African American students shows only 32% for English and 25% for math standards.

This data screams code red urgency. No longer can an apartheid system be the unspeakable norm. It must change. The next governor must be a leader who brings about monumental, results-oriented change. Our future depends on it. Courage and boldness must be qualities embodied when the next governor takes office.

There are 10 major candidates running for governor. A Washington Post op-ed by Ben Austin, executive director of Education Civil Rights Now, and Jorge Elorza, CEO of Democrats For Education Reform, make the case that Democrats running for office are more concerned about protecting institutions than protecting the rights of children.

We should be suspicious of any candidate for governor that doesn’t emphasize big changes. The wealthiest California families have left the public schools to send their children to private schools, paying twice (taxes and tuition) for what they believe is a top-tier education.

Every child deserves a top-tier education. In Santa Clara County, private school enrollment is approaching 20% — 43,276 children switching to private school out of 236,428 public school enrollees, according to the California Department of Education.

This dis-enrollment causes a loss of intellectual heft in public school classrooms. It is also part of the declining enrollment issue that challenges many school districts.

In 2025-26, California is expected to spend $114 billion on pre-kindergarten through community college education, according to EdSource. An additional $11 billion from the state general fund is spent for California state colleges and universities. California’s total general fund budget in 2025-26 is $228 billion. California spends 54.8% or $125 billion on public education for pre-k through two-year community college.

Two candidates stand out: Antonio Villaraigosa’s education agenda centers on boosting K-12 performance, reducing the achievement gap and improving college affordability. Matt Mahan’s education agenda focuses on “getting back to basics” by prioritizing literacy, restoring high academic standards and increasing accountability. As a former teacher, Mahan doubles down on the “science of reading,” ensuring third-grade proficiency.

Additionally, Tom Steyer’s agenda focuses on making California a “top 10” education state by aggressively increasing funding.

The breakaway candidate will be the one who prioritizes bringing back strong legislation to reinvigorate the public charter school choice movement, extinguished by the lobbying power of the California Teachers Association. I believe the candidate that leans into parent empowerment and public school choice will become the next governor.

Joseph Di Salvo is a San Jose State University justice studies adjunct professor. He is a retired Santa Clara County Board of Education trustee and a retired principal and teacher.