Newsom budget centralizes education control, boosts K-12 and higher funding

On Jan. 12, Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a budget proposal that pairs a large infusion of education dollars with a structural shift in state education governance. The plan would put roughly $115 billion toward K-12 and higher education, with targeted investments in reading programs, special education, and college and career pathways, and would add about $700 million for the University of California and California State University systems. The proposal also moves the California Department of Education into the governor’s executive branch and consolidates policy roles now shared with the State Board of Education.

The administration frames the changes as modernization intended to streamline decision-making and reduce bureaucratic friction. At the same time, elected officials who currently serve as independent voices on statewide education policy have objected, arguing the consolidation concentrates power in the executive and could undercut independent oversight. Among the critics is the elected state superintendent, who has publicly opposed the shift in authority.

For San Francisco, the budget and governance proposal carries practical consequences. Increased state investment in reading and special education could help school districts address long-standing needs such as early literacy, expanded special education staffing, and career-focused pathways that connect high school students to community colleges and nearby universities. City institutions from San Francisco Unified School District to City College of San Francisco and San Francisco State University could see statewide program funding flow toward locally administered initiatives, though exact allocations will depend on legislative negotiations and implementation details.

The governance change would alter who sets policy and how quickly changes can happen. Consolidating the Department of Education under the governor could speed statewide program rollouts and unify decision-making, but it also raises questions about checks and balances that currently exist between the governor, the State Board of Education, and the elected superintendent. Local school boards and administrators may face faster directives or new standards coming from Sacramento, affecting curriculum choices, accountability measures, and waiver processes that districts use to adapt state rules to local needs.

The proposal now moves into the Legislature, where budget writers and education committees will vet funding levels and the governance rewrite. Expect debate over whether the changes improve efficiency or concentrate political control, and whether the additional CSU and UC funding will be directed toward enrollment, affordability, or program expansion that benefits Bay Area students.

The takeaway? Keep an eye on Sacramento but pay attention at home: school board meetings and local legislator offices are where San Francisco residents can influence how new state dollars and governance changes actually land in classrooms and campuses. Our two cents? Show up, ask which programs local schools would prioritize, and press for clear timelines and accountability as the budget moves through the process.