What is the Superintendent of Public Instruction responsible for? | CA Politics 360

Before you vote, we want to explain what exactly the Superintendent of Public Instruction oversees.

WITH THE ELECTION JUST MONTHS AWAY, THERE’S A NATIONAL PUSH FOR STRICTER VOTING LAWS. WHY? SENATOR ALEX PADILLA SAYS HE’S CONCERNED, AS CALIFORNIA’S FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE, WHAT HE THINKS ABOUT ELECTION SECURITY IN CALIFORNIA. CAPITOL ANNEX PROJECT LEADERS BREAK THEIR PROMISE TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT. WHAT I’VE SEEN IS THERE’S ZERO URGENCY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE PUBLICLY. THE PUSH TO FIND OUT HOW YOUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT AS THIS MASSIVE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT CONTINUES, SITTING DOWN WITH CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR. AT THE END OF THE DAY, I JUST THINK THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA ARE NOT GETTING THE VALUE THEY DESERVE IN TERMS OF THE BASICS. DEMOCRAT MATT MAHAN ON HIS VISION FOR CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR CALIFORNIA POLITICS 360. I’M ASHLEY ZAVALA. THERE’S A PUSH AT OUR NATION’S CAPITOL FOR STRICTER VOTING LAWS, WHAT’S KNOWN AS THE SAFE ACT WOULD REQUIRE AMERICANS TO SHOW PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP IN PERSON TO REGISTER TO VOTE. IT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE VOTERS TO SHOW AN ID TO CAST BALLOTS, INCLUDING BY MAIL. EARLIER THIS WEEK, I SPOKE WITH DEMOCRATIC U.S. SENATOR ALEX PADILLA ABOUT THIS PUSH. HERE’S PART OF OUR CONVERSATION. THE PUSH AT THE CAPITOL RIGHT NOW TO IMPOSE STRICTER VOTING LAWS, STRICTER RECORDS THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO VOTE WITH THE SAVE ACT. AS CALIFORNIA’S FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE. WHAT ABOUT THIS SPECIFICALLY CONCERNS YOU? YEAH, WELL, THERE’S A LOT TO NOT LIKE ABOUT THE SAVE ACT, BECAUSE AS I HEAR MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES TRY TO PRESENT IT AND PITCH IT AS A COMMON SENSE IDEA, IT’S ANYTHING BUT. FIRST OF ALL, THERE IS NO MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD IN AMERICA. OF ALL THE AUDITS, OF ALL THE STUDIES, OF ALL THE RESEARCH, IT SHOWS THAT VOTER FRAUD IS EXCEEDINGLY RARE. SO TO START WITH, IT’S A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM. NUMBER TWO, THEY’LL CLAIM THAT WHAT’S WRONG WITH VOTER ID? MOST PEOPLE SUPPORT THE NOTION. IF YOU READ THE LANGUAGE OF THE BILL, WHAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD CONSIDER A COMMON TYPE OF ID YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE. FOR EXAMPLE, THAT ISN’T SUFFICIENT TO VOTE UNDER THE REPUBLICAN SAVE ACT. IT REQUIRES A PASSPORT, WHICH HALF OF AMERICANS DON’T EVEN HAVE, OR AN ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE, WHICH NOBODY THAT I KNOW KNOWS OFF THE TOP OF THEIR HEAD. LIKE WHERE EXACTLY IT IS IN THEIR HOME, IN THEIR GARAGE, IN THEIR PARENT’S HOME. ET CETERA. AND AGAIN, THIS IS A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM. BUT LET’S TALK ABOUT WHY WE’RE DISCUSSING THE SAVE ACT AND NOT, YOU KNOW, FUNDING THE DEPARTMENTS LIKE TSA, FEMA AND THE COAST GUARD. WHY ARE WE DEBATING FOR TWO WEEKS NOW AND COUNTING THE SAVE ACT, WHEN WE SHOULD BE DISCUSSING IDEAS ON HOW TO BRING DOWN THE COST OF HEALTH CARE, BRING DOWN THE COST OF ENERGY, BRING DOWN THE COST OF GASOLINE, BRING DOWN THE COST OF HOUSING. IT’S NOT A SECRET ANYMORE. DONALD TRUMP HAS SAID IT. THEY’RE FIGHTING FOR POLITICAL SURVIVAL. THEIR NUMBERS ARE SO LOW. THEIR RECORDS HAVE BEEN SO BAD. THE ONLY CHANCE OF HOLDING ON TO POWER THIS NOVEMBER IS TO CHANGE THE RULES OF THE ELECTIONS. AND IT’S NOT BEFORE THE VOTING EVEN STARTS. WE’RE ALREADY IN THE MIDDLE OF PRIMARY SEASON, SO THEY’RE DESPERATE AND THIS IS THEIR LAST HOPE. GENERALLY ON THIS TOPIC HERE, BACK HERE AT HOME IN CALIFORNIA, REPUBLICANS ARE ALSO WORKING TO GET A PROPOSAL THAT COULD LAND ON THE BALLOT REQUIRING VOTER ID AT THE POLLS, AND THAT APPARENTLY HAS GAINED ENOUGH SIGNATURES TO PROBABLY LAND ON THE BALLOT. WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THIS PUSH GENERALLY TO MAKE ELECTIONS MORE SECURE? I MEAN, DO YOU THINK MORE COULD BE DONE TO MAKE THEM MORE SECURE? YEAH. LOOK, AGAIN, THIS CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF STATE, WE WANT ELECTIONS THAT ARE FREE, THAT ARE FAIR, THAT ARE SAFE AND THAT ARE SECURE. I KNOW THE INFRASTRUCTURE BEHIND IT. I KNOW THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATORS IN ALL 58 COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA. OUR ELECTIONS ARE SAFE AND SECURE. WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THAT WHILE WORKING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR ELIGIBLE AMERICANS TO PARTICIPATE. WHAT WE HAVE IN THE SAFE ACT AND VOTER IDS GENERALLY IS RULES THAT MAKE IT HARDER FOR ELIGIBLE PEOPLE TO REGISTER, TO VOTE, TO STAY REGISTERED, TO VOTE, OR TO ACTUALLY CAST THEIR BALLOT. YOU KNOW, ONE LAST MEASURE WITHIN THE SAFE ACT THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT HERE. THERE’S LANGUAGE IN THE BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE EVERY STATE IN THE NATION TO TURN OVER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, NOT JUST THE VOTER ROLLS THE LIST OF VOTERS IN EVERY STATE, BUT ALL THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION. WHY? WHY DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY DOES NOT PLAY A ROLE IN ELECTION ADMINISTRATION. WE SHOULDN’T TRUST THEM TO MANAGE THE VOTER ROLLS. WE’VE SEEN 12 STATES THAT HAVE CHOSEN TO COOPERATE WITH DHS TURN OVER THAT DATA. DHS IS NOW TELLING THEM TO PURGE ELIGIBLE CITIZENS FROM THE VOTER ROLLS. THIS IS VOTER SUPPRESSION IS WHAT IT IS. THEY’RE CALLING IT THE SAVE ACT. IT’S VOTER SUPPRESSION. SENATOR, BEFORE I LET YOU GO, I DON’T KNOW IF YOU’VE HEARD ABOUT THIS DOWN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF WHO’S ALSO RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, CHAD BIANCO, SEIZED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF BALLOTS FROM LAST YEAR’S ELECTION. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS TRYING TO SUE TO TO STOP WHATEVER THE SHERIFF MIGHT TRY TO DO THERE. ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE SITUATION? DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? WELL, I’VE HEARD THE STORY. I DON’T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS THE TWO THINGS THAT IT BRINGS TO MIND. NUMBER ONE, REMINISCENT OF AN FBI RAID IN FULTON COUNTY, GEORGIA, JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, SEIZING THE BALLOT MATERIALS FROM THE 2020 ELECTION WITHOUT CAUSE, WITHOUT JUSTIFICATION. IT SEEMS. THIS IS THE OTHER POINT. HE’S PLAYING FOR AN AUDIENCE OF ONE. MAYBE HE DOES WANT THE ELECTION. HE PROBABLY WON’T. BUT HE’S TRYING TO INGRATIATE HIMSELF TO DONALD TRUMP IN HOPES OF AN APPOINTMENT OR SOMETHING. I DON’T KNOW, SENATOR BIDEN. I ALSO TALK ABOUT FUNDING THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AHEAD OF THE SENATE, MAKING A DEAL ON THAT ON FRIDAY. WHO WILL BE CALIFORNIA’S NEXT GOVERNOR? MY SIT DOWN CONVERSATION WITH CANDIDATE MATT MAHAN, HIS PLAN TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY ABOUT HOW THE STATE SPENDS YOUR LA MESA REC VAN FUELING YOUR JOURNEY FOR OVER 50 YEARS. THIS YEAR, CALIFORNIA VOTERS WILL DECIDE WHO THEY WANT TO BE THEIR NEXT GOVERNOR. EVERY WEEK LEADING UP TO THE JUNE PRIMARY, WE WILL HEAR FROM ONE OF THE TOP TEN CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE STATE’S HIGHEST POSITION. THIS WEEK, I SAT DOWN WITH DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE MATT MAHAN TO GET HIS THOUGHTS ON THE MAJOR ISSUES IMPACTING CALIFORNIANS. SITTING DOWN WITH MATT MAHAN. I’M WORRIED ABOUT THE DIRECTION THE STATE IS GOING IN. I THINK SACRAMENTO IS WORKING GREAT FOR SPECIAL INTERESTS AND NOT SO GREAT FOR THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA, AND I WANT TO TAKE THE WORK WE’VE DONE IN SAN JOSE TO MAKE OUR STREETS SAFER, REDUCE UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS, BUILD HOUSING, BRING DOWN ENERGY COSTS AND PURSUE THAT AGENDA STATEWIDE MOVING FORWARD, THE STATE IS FACING MULTI-YEAR MONEY PROBLEMS. AND RIGHT NOW, AT THIS POINT, ACCORDING TO THE LEGISLATIVE EXPERTS, THE OPTIONS ARE EITHER CUT PROGRAMS OR RAISE TAXES. WHICH OPTIONS DO YOU SEE YOURSELF CHOOSING? WELL, ACTUALLY, TO SOME EXTENT, I THINK IT’S A FALSE CHOICE. WHEN THE STATE HAS MANAGED TO INCREASE SPENDING BY 75% IN THE LAST SIX YEARS AND NOTHING HAS GOTTEN BETTER, WE’RE GOING TO TAKE THE DOLLARS WE HAVE AS AS A GIVEN, AS A CONSTRAINT. WE’RE NOT GOING TO ASK PEOPLE FOR MORE. WE’RE SEEING THESE TEACHER STRIKES THAT ARE DRIVEN BY ONE OF THE LABOR GROUPS THAT YOU ACKNOWLEDGED EARLIER. AND THEN THERE’S ALSO SOME CLASSROOM PERFORMANCE ISSUES WITH STUDENTS IN CALIFORNIA STRUGGLING TO DO MATH, TO READ, TO DO SCIENCE. HOW WOULD YOU FIX THAT? ACTUALLY, I’M A FORMER PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER. EDUCATION CHANGED MY LIFE. WE ARE NOW IN THE TOP TEN FOR SPENDING. WE HAVE RAMPED UP SPENDING ON PUBLIC EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER AREA OF LIFE IN CALIFORNIA. OVER THE LAST DECADE, WE’VE DOUBLED OUR SPENDING, BUT THE OUTCOMES AREN’T BETTER. AT SOME POINT, WE NEED TO STOP FUNDING FAILURE. WE’VE HAD A LONG AND UNNECESSARY FIGHT OVER THE SCIENCE OF READING. SHOULD WE BE TEACHING PHONICS AND OTHER EVIDENCE BASED CURRICULUM? THE ANSWER IS YES, WE SHOULD. WE ALSO NEED TO CREATE REAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AT THE STATE LEVEL BY DOING WHAT GOVERNOR NEWSOM HAS PROPOSED, WHICH IS ACTUALLY ALIGNING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WITH THE SCHOOL, WITH THE STATE EDUCATION BOARD ALL THE WAY UP TO THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE. THE GOVERNOR SHOULD BE WHERE THE BUCK STOPS ON EDUCATION. THESE ARE BETTER, SMARTER WAYS TO SPEND OUR LIMITED DOLLARS TO ADDRESS OUR EDUCATION ISSUES. SPEAKING OF LIMITED DOLLARS, JUST FOLKS IN CALIFORNIA ARE FEELING STRAPPED FOR CASH THEMSELVES. HOW WOULD YOU MAKE LIFE IN THIS STATE MORE AFFORDABLE? I PROPOSED THAT RIGHT NOW THERE’S SOMETHING VERY CONCRETE WE CAN DO TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH IMMEDIATE RELIEF, WHICH IS TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND OUR GAS TAX. WE HAVE THE HIGHEST GAS PRICES IN THE COUNTRY. LET’S PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS. IN A BUDGET OF $350 BILLION. THAT HAS GONE UP 75% IN THE LAST SIX YEARS. YOU CAN’T TELL ME THAT. WE HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HELPING PEOPLE HAVE A SLIGHTLY HAVE A LITTLE MORE ROOM IN THEIR BUDGET BY BRINGING DOWN GAS COSTS AND PAVING THE ROADS ON THE OTHER END, WE CAN FIND THE MONEY TO PAVE OUR ROADS AND GIVE A MUCH NEEDED BREAK TO WORKING FAMILIES ON THE ENVIRONMENT. MAHAN SAID HE DOES NOT THINK CALIFORNIA NEEDS TO CHANGE ITS CLIMATE GOALS TO PHASE OUT THE USE OF OIL AND GAS ON HEALTH CARE. HE TOLD ME HE SUPPORTS CONTINUING TO PROVIDE INSURANCE TO UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE AND TO PROTECT TAXPAYER MONEY. HE SAYS AS GOVERNOR, EVERY 90 DAYS, HE’LL HAVE AN AUDIT AND GIVE A PUBLIC UPDATE ON HOW THE DOLLARS HAVE BEEN USED. WHO’S DOING THE CHECKING, THOUGH? YOU’RE SAYING EVERY 90 DAYS AS GOVERNOR YOU WOULD GET A CHECK ON THESE PROGRAMS? WHO WOULD BE DOING THAT FOR YOU? I THINK WE SHOULD BE USING AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR SLASH INSPECTOR GENERAL LIKE FUNCTION TO DO THAT. IN SAN JOSE, WE HAVE A VERY ACTIVE AUDITOR. WE DO EXTERNAL SURVEYING OF THE PUBLIC. WE HIRE AN OUTSIDE FIRM TO GO SURVEY THE COMMUNITY ON HOW CLEAN IS YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, HOW RESPONSIVE ARE CITY SERVICES ON HOUSING? HE SAYS HE WOULD CHANGE STATE LAW TO FAST TRACK THE BUILDING PROCESS. ON HOMELESSNESS. HE SAYS HE WOULD BUILD BASIC SHELTER, INVEST IN SHORT TERM HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION LIKE RENTAL HELP, PLUS RAMP UP THE STATE’S MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS THAT GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM HELPED CREATE. WELL, YOU CARRY THIS WORK. WILL YOU CONTINUE THOSE PROGRAMS OR DO OTHER THINGS NEED TO HAPPEN? I WILL BUILD ON WHAT GOVERNOR NEWSOM HAS DONE THERE, AND I WAS SUPPORTIVE OF ALL THREE OF THOSE. SO EXPANDING CONSERVATORSHIP, CREATING CARE COURTS AND USING MORE OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH DOLLARS TO BUILD IN-PATIENT TREATMENT. THOSE ARE THE RIGHT IDEAS. BUT THE EXECUTION HASN’T BEEN THERE. AND THE PROBLEM IS WE’RE CONFLICTED IN TERMS OF WHAT WE WANT. THE GOVERNOR IS PUSHING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON THESE ISSUES, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO IMPLEMENTATION, MANY OF THE COUNTIES ARE NOT IMPLEMENTING. WHAT GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM A THROUGH F USED TO BE A TEACHER. OH, COME ON, LOOK, I IT’S NOT MY JOB TO GRADE TO GRADE THE GOVERNOR. THERE ARE MANY. YOU WON’T YOU WON’T GRADE HIM. THERE ARE MANY THINGS I HAVE AGREED WITH HIM ON. WE’VE ALSO HAD SOME PUBLIC. WE DIDN’T AGREE ON PROP 36. OUR JOB IS TO TAKE EACH ISSUE SOLUTION AND BE WILLING TO DISAGREE WITH MEMBERS OF OUR OWN PARTY IF WE THINK THEY’VE GOT THE WRONG IDEA. THAT’S THE KIND OF ADULT, MATURE POLITICS OUR STATE NEEDS. I WORRY THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IS A SORT OF GROUPTHINK WHERE EVERYBODY IS IN THE SAME CLUB AND IS NOT WILLING TO PUBLICLY DISAGREE ON MATTERS OF SUBSTANCE, SO I DON’T KNOW SOME ISSUES. I’D GIVE THEM AN A ON OTHERS. WE VERY MUCH DISAGREED AND I’D GIVE THEM A D. I DON’T KNOW WHAT ARE THREE WORDS YOU WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE CALIFORNIA UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP? ACCOUNTABLE FOR RESULTS RIGHT NOW ON CAL POLITICS 360.COM. YOU CAN WATCH MY FULL 30 MINUTE CONVERSATION WITH SAN JOSE MAYOR MATT MAHAN. LEADERS BEHIND THE CAPITOL ANNEX PROJECT BACKTRACKING ON PROMISES TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT. THE LACK OF INFORMATION FOR EVEN LAWMAKERS AS CREWS CONTINUE TO BUILD THIS NEW BILLION DOLLAR STATE OFFICE BUILDING. AND WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. SEND US AN EMAIL CONTACT AT CAL POLITICS 360.COM. CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES ON THE NEW OFFICES FOR CALIFORNIA’S LAWMAKERS AND THE FUTURE GOVERNOR. TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING AT LEAST $1 BILLION FOR THE CAPITOL ANNEX PROJECT, BUT THE TWO LAWMAKERS IN CHARGE OF IT HAVE FAILED TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THEIR PROMISE TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT, PROMISE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO TAXPAYERS ON THIS PROJECT IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. YOU’RE ABOUT TO LEAVE FOR SPRING BREAK AND NOT GIVE A SINGLE UPDATE WHY WE’RE GOING TO BE DOING IT ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. HOW CAN PEOPLE TRUST YOU WHEN YOU PROMISED TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT? AND DO YOU REALLY THINK THIS IS TRANSPARENCY? WE WILL BE TRANSPARENT NOW. STATE LAWMAKERS WILL CONSIDER A BILL THAT COULD FORCE PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS ON THE SECRETIVE PROJECT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS, REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLYMAN JOSH HOOVER FILED A PROPOSAL TO INVALIDATE THE NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SHIELDING BASIC INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC AND FORCING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE INVOLVED TO KEEP QUIET. I SAT DOWN WITH HOOVER ABOUT WHERE HIS BILL STANDS. HERE’S PART OF OUR CONVERSATION. SET THE STAGE FOR US. I MEAN, AS A STATE LAWMAKER WHO NOT PART AT ALL OF REALLY THE DAY TO DAY CAPITOL ANNEX PROJECT DECISIONS, I MEAN, HOW MUCH DO STATE LAWMAKERS LIKE YOURSELF REALLY KNOW ABOUT THIS PROJECT? SO THE MOST THAT WE REALLY KNOW ABOUT THE PROJECT IS SORT OF THE UPDATES THAT WE’LL GET OCCASIONALLY, WHICH IS ACTUALLY VERY RARELY. THEY DID INVITE US LAST YEAR TO GO ON SORT OF A BEHIND THE SCENES WALK OF THE CONSTRUCTION. SO THEY SENT THAT INVITE OUT TO ALL LEGISLATORS, AND I PARTICIPATED IN THAT, I TOOK A COUPLE PHOTOS. THIS WAS IT’S THE BUILDING HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE THEN, BUT IT WAS INTERESTING. WE WERE GIVEN DETAILS ON THE OPENING DATE AND THE, YOU KNOW, BASIC DETAILS ON THE ARCHITECTURE. BUT BEYOND THAT, WE REALLY KNOW NOTHING MORE THAN THAN THE PUBLIC. I MEAN, HAS THERE BEEN AN UPDATE FOR YOU ALL THIS YEAR? I HAVE RECEIVED NO UPDATES THIS YEAR. I’VE ALSO NEVER RECEIVED AN UPDATE ON COSTS. SPECIFICALLY, IT’S ONLY BEEN UPDATES ON PROGRESS ON OPENING DATE, YOU KNOW, BEING ON TRACK TO OPEN AND ON ARCHITECTURE, BUT NEVER THE LEGISLATURE, AS FAR AS I KNOW, HAS NEVER BEEN UPDATED ON COST. YOU FILED A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THIS YEAR TO INVALIDATE THE BROAD NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS THAT ARE LEGALLY FORCING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO KEEP EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PROJECT A SECRET, ESSENTIALLY. AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, TO GET THE COMMITMENT THAT THE PLANNED WEST SIDE VISITOR CENTER DOES NOT HAPPEN ON THE WEST SIDE. WHAT’S THE STATUS OF THAT? SO IT’S ACTUALLY REALLY INTERESTING. I INTRODUCED A B 2445 AFTER MULTIPLE YEARS, BY THE WAY OF TRYING TO GET INFORMATION WITHOUT LEGISLATION. I FINALLY GOT TIRED OF WAITING. WE PUT FORWARD THE BILL THAT DOES EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID IT WOULD INVALIDATE. IT WOULD INVALIDATE ALL THE NDAS THAT HAVE BEEN SIGNED, ALLOW THE SECRECY TO END. IT WOULD ALSO ENSURE THAT NDAS CAN’T BE USED ON FUTURE PUBLICLY FUNDED PROJECTS, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND IT WOULD TRY TO PROTECT THE WEST STEPS BY PROHIBITING A VISITOR CENTER FROM BEING BUILT THERE. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT BILL CONTINUES TO SIT IN THE RULES COMMITTEE. UNREFERRED IT HAS NOT IT HAS NOT BEEN SENT TO A POLICY COMMITTEE. SO WE CAN’T EVEN TALK ABOUT HEARING THE BILL IN COMMITTEE, BECAUSE IT HASN’T EVEN BEEN SENT THERE YET. WE ACTUALLY PUT AN OFFICIAL INQUIRY IN TODAY TO ASK THEM, WHY IS THIS BILL NOT BEING REFERRED? WHEN CAN WE PLAN ON IT BEING REFERRED, AND WILL DEFINITELY LET YOU KNOW WHEN AND IF WE GET A RESPONSE. BUT WE’RE HEADED INTO SPRING BREAK, SO I DO NOT EXPECT A RESPONSE SOON, AND I EXPECT THEM TO CONTINUE TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ON THIS. YEAH, WE SHOULD MENTION THAT ASSEMBLY MEMBER BLANCA PACHECO, WHO LEADS JOINT RULES, WHICH OVERSEES THE CAPITOL ANNEX PROJECT. SHE’S INVOLVED. I MEAN, SHE IS THE LEADER OF THE COMMITTEE THAT WOULD DECIDE WHERE THIS GOES. I MEAN, HAVE YOU TALKED TO HER AT ALL? I HAVEN’T TALKED TO HER YET ABOUT THE REFERRAL ITSELF. IT’S STILL, YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY, RIGHT. THESE BILLS GET REFERRED IN BUNCHES AND BUT UNFORTUNATELY, EVERY ONE OF MY BILLS THAT I INTRODUCED OTHER THAN THIS ONE HAS BEEN REFERRED AT THIS POINT. AND SO THIS IS WHY WE’RE PUTTING AN OFFICIAL INQUIRY IN WITH THE COMMITTEE TO ASK EXACTLY WHAT’S GOING ON. AND IF NECESSARY, I WILL TALK TO HER. ASSEMBLYMAN HOOVER AND I ALSO TALK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM STEPPING IN TO HELP GET ANSWERS. VOTERS WILL CHOOSE A NEW LEADER FOR CALIFORNIA’S SCHOOLS. A LOOK AT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. CALIFORNIA VOTERS WILL CHOOSE A NEW STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION THIS YEAR. SO BEFORE YOU VOTE, WE WANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT EXACTLY THAT PERSON DOES. KURTIS MING BREAKS IT DOWN. THIS YEAR, CALIFORNIA’S ELECTING A NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. SO WHAT DO THEY DO? LET’S TAKE A LOOK. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION OVERSEES THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. SCHOOLS ARE RUN BY LOCAL DISTRICTS OR PRIVATE ENTITIES. BUT THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OVERSEES THEM. THEIR MAIN JOB IS MANAGING EDUCATION LAWS AND REGULATIONS. THEY ALSO HANDLE LICENSING TEACHERS. RIGHT NOW, THERE IS A POWER STRUGGLE BREWING OVER THE STATE CAPITOL INVOLVING PUBLIC SCHOOLS. GOVERNOR NEWSOM IS PUSHING TO TAKE AWAY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RUNNING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND GIVING IT TO THE GOVERNOR APPOINTED BOARD OF EDUCATION. INSTEAD. THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT ALSO SERVES ON A NUMBER OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, INCLUDING THE UC, CSU AND COMMISSION ON TEACHER CREDENTIALING. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION HAS A LIMIT OF TWO FOUR YEAR TERMS, AND IT’S A NONPARTISAN POSITION. THAT MEANS WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR BALLOT, IT’S NOT GOING TO LIST THEIR PARTY. SO HOW MUCH DOES THE SUPERINTENDENT MAKE? LAST YEAR, THE JOB PAID $213,000 BACK TO YOU. THANKS, KURTIS. CALIFORNIA POLITICS 360 CONTINUES ONLINE. YOU CAN WATCH THIS WEEK’S FULL INTERVIEWS RIGHT NOW ON CAL POLITICS. 360.COM. PLUS, READ IN-DEPTH ARTICLES ABOUT THE TOPICS WE COVERED TODAY. ALSO, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. WHAT ISSUES DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD COVER? SEND US AN EMAIL AT. CONTACT AT CAL POLITICS 360.COM. AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THIS WEEK’S CALIFORNIA POLITICS. 360. SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

What is the Superintendent of Public Instruction responsible for? | CA Politics 360

Before you vote, we want to explain what exactly the Superintendent of Public Instruction oversees.

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Updated: 8:25 AM PDT Mar 29, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

California is electing a new Superintendent of Public Instruction this year.Before you vote, we want to explain what exactly the Superintendent of Public Instruction oversees.Let’s break it down.EDUCATION DEPARTMENTThe Superintendent of Public Instruction oversees the Department of Education. Schools are run by local districts or private entities, but the state superintendent oversees them.The Superintendent of Public Instruction’s main job is managing the education laws and regulations. They also lead the operational aspects of the public school system, including teacher licensing.POWER STRUGGLE OVER PUBLIC SCHOOLSRight now, there’s a power struggle over public schools brewing at the State Capitol. Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing to take away the responsibility of running the Department of Education from the Superintendent of Public Instruction. He wants the governor-appointed Board of Education to run the Department of Education instead.BOARDS & COMMISSIONSThe Superintendent of Public Instruction serves on several boards and commissions, including for the University of California, California State University and the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.TIME IN OFFICE & PAYThe Superintendent of Public Instruction has a limit of two four-year terms in office. This is a non-partisan office, so candidates won’t have a political party affiliation on the ballot.In 2025, this job paid $213,617, according to the Department of Human Resources.KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.

California is electing a new Superintendent of Public Instruction this year.

Before you vote, we want to explain what exactly the Superintendent of Public Instruction oversees.

Let’s break it down.

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

The Superintendent of Public Instruction oversees the Department of Education. Schools are run by local districts or private entities, but the state superintendent oversees them.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction’s main job is managing the education laws and regulations. They also lead the operational aspects of the public school system, including teacher licensing.

POWER STRUGGLE OVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Right now, there’s a power struggle over public schools brewing at the State Capitol. Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing to take away the responsibility of running the Department of Education from the Superintendent of Public Instruction. He wants the governor-appointed Board of Education to run the Department of Education instead.

BOARDS & COMMISSIONS

The Superintendent of Public Instruction serves on several boards and commissions, including for the University of California, California State University and the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

TIME IN OFFICE & PAY

The Superintendent of Public Instruction has a limit of two four-year terms in office. This is a non-partisan office, so candidates won’t have a political party affiliation on the ballot.

In 2025, this job paid $213,617, according to the Department of Human Resources.

KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.