As the product of California public schools, I know how important good public education is for the American Dream.

I’m proud to be the ONLY candidate in this race who sends his own kids to public schools, and to be the only candidate backed by the major pro-education groups, including the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers. 

In the State Senate, I serve on the Budget Committee’s Education Subcommittee, which is responsible for handling the funding for all K-12 public schools, community colleges, the California State University system, and a good part of the University of California’s budget. In this role, I’ve tried to emphasize the ABCs of good education– good teachers, smaller class sizes, and better access– even as we had to deal with the significant challenges posed by COVID-19.

I’ve also raised concerns about the removal of calculus and other advanced math classes from our state’s required curriculum, as well as the elimination of standardized testing in our UCs.

While I empathize with the policy goals of inclusion and equity behind these policies, I think more data and analysis must be gathered before we engage in massive policy changes that could harm generations of students. 

In Congress, I want to focus on how we can rethink public education in ways that prepare and train children and also adults for the rapidly changing economy. More vocational training and adult education programs will be needed as AI and automation come into play more and more. We should be rethinking how we utilize our K-12 and higher education institutions, and I hope to be a thoughtful voice in this discussion, even as I continue to push hard to emphasize the basics of good teachers and smaller class sizes across our education system.