Governor Gavin Newsom signs landmark education governance reform aimed at strengthening support for nearly six million California students

Sacramento, California – California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed sweeping education legislation designed to reshape how the state’s public education system is managed, marking what supporters describe as one of the most significant governance changes in more than a century.

The newly signed measure, Assembly Bill 181, was introduced by Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-San Diego) and Assemblymember Darshana Patel (D-Poway). The legislation carries out a proposal Newsom first outlined during his State of the State address and seeks to improve accountability, coordination, and support across California’s nearly 10,000 schools serving approximately six million students.

The law changes the state’s long-standing education governance structure by bringing the policy-making State Board of Education and the California Department of Education into closer alignment. Under the new system, an appointed Education Commissioner, serving under the State Board of Education, will oversee the management of the Department of Education and implement board policies.

At the same time, the legislation expands the role of the elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction, giving the office greater authority as an independent statewide advocate for students, families, and educators from transitional kindergarten through higher education.

“California can no longer afford to postpone reforms that have been recommended regularly for a century. For too long, our state’s education governance structure has divided responsibility for setting policy from responsibility for implementing it. AB 181 creates a more effective system that will help us deliver better results for students while ensuring greater accountability for the investments Californians make in public education.”

New structure aims to improve accountability and coordination

The legislation gives the State Superintendent voting membership on the State Board of Education and all three governing bodies overseeing California’s higher education system. Supporters say the change will encourage stronger coordination between early education, K-12 schools, colleges, and universities.

AB 181 also expands the State Board of Education by adding two legislative appointees while further defining the responsibilities of key education leaders.

Before receiving final approval, the proposal was examined during several months of hearings in both the Assembly and Senate. Lawmakers heard testimony from education experts, school leaders, advocacy groups, statewide associations, and organizations focused on educational equity.

Supporters repeatedly pointed to decades of reports concluding that California’s education system has suffered because authority has been divided among multiple agencies with overlapping responsibilities.

State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond said the legislation addresses a long-standing problem.

“California has inherited one of the most fragmented education governance structures in the nation, which challenges our ability to implement efficiently the transformative initiatives that move our schools forward. Our work as education leaders requires that we adopt a continuous improvement approach to ensure that our system is coherent, effective, and responsive to the changing needs of our students and our society,” she said. “The signing of Assembly Bill 181 will help us build on the meaningful progress the state has made in recent years to support greater equity and excellence in our public schools.”

Supporters also referenced findings from the Legislature’s 2002 Master Plan for Education, which concluded that California’s K-12 education system has long been governed by overlapping agencies that sometimes work against one another, reducing the quality of services available to students.

Assemblymember David Alvarez described the measure as a long-overdue solution.

“This reform is long overdue. For nearly a century, independent reports have called for fixing our fragmented education governance system,” Alvarez said. “Past leaders failed to act, and our students have paid the price, as reflected in the persistent and unacceptable achievement gaps experienced by Black and Hispanic students. AB 181 is a call to action that begins by aligning authority, accountability, and resources. I thank Governor Newsom for his partnership and for recognizing that the status quo is not good enough. I am committed to ensuring this transition is transparent, accountable, and focused on the only thing that matters: improving student outcomes.”

Assemblymember Darshana Patel said the current system has often created confusion about the state’s educational goals and has slowed effective implementation of important programs.

“This is why AB 181 is critical in this moment to ensure clear lines of communication to address student needs,” Patel said.

Education organizations across California also welcomed the legislation.

Leaders from the California County Superintendents, EdVoice, the California Association of School Business Officials, Children Now, PACE, EdTrust-West, and the Association of California School Administrators praised the changes, arguing they will improve leadership, strengthen accountability, simplify implementation of state policies, and ultimately produce better outcomes for students.

Supporters noted that California has recently made historic investments in areas including Universal Transitional Kindergarten, literacy and mathematics programs, community schools, and student mental health services. They believe the new governance model will help ensure those investments are carried out more effectively.

The legislation takes effect in January 2027, when California’s next governor and State Superintendent of Public Instruction assume office. It also includes planning and reporting requirements intended to support a smooth transition and evaluate additional opportunities to streamline the state’s education governance system.

According to supporters, more than 950 organizations, along with statewide school management associations, education experts, equity organizations, and school leaders, expressed support for the reform, calling it a historic step toward improving educational opportunities for California students.