Newsom Overhauls California Education Governance, Moves Power from Elected SPI to Governor-Appointed Commissioner

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 181, a budget trailer bill that shifts day-to-day control of California’s education system from the elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction to a governor-appointed Education Commissioner, a move critics call an undemocratic power grab while supporters say it modernizes governance; the change drew backlash from educators and SPI hopeful Sonja Shaw, who vows to challenge the measure in court.