Top Takeaways The LAO concludes: Moving the education department to the governor’s control would reduce confusion. The state superintendent should become an independent evaluator of state programs. The Legislature should confirm the appointment of a new commissioner of education. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to shift the operation of the California Department of Education has received a key endorsement from the Legislative Analyst’s Office. The nonpartisan LAO said last week that moving control of the department from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to a new education commissioner under the governor’s authority would clarify confusion over who should manage the state’s TK-12 education system. The roles “are clear in theory but often murky in practice,” said the LAO, which evaluates state policies for the Legislature. This lack of clarity can mar the rollout of major programs like transitional kindergarten and leave districts unsure of where to turn to for guidance. According to the LAO, overlapping roles among the Department of Education, the State Board of Education and other agencies create confusion about who is in charge. The change that Newsom is proposing “could result in clearer direction and support for school districts,” the LAO said. Under Newsom’s plan, the state superintendent would continue to be elected every four years, as required by the California Constitution, but with diminished power and a small staff with a minimum budget. While the state superintendent would have limited authority under the governor’s proposal, the LAO suggests that the state superintendent could become an independent evaluator of…
