January 2026 IQC Meeting Draft Minutes

Draft Minutes of Meeting: January 21–22, 2026

(Commission will consider for approval on September 24, 2026)

Preliminary Report of Action
Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Instructional Quality Commissioners Present:

• Lena Bradshaw
• Gia Daniller
• Jacquay Durant
• Cheryl Frye
• Julie Goldman
• Charice Guerra
• Jennifer Hicks
• Janet Lanning
• Rebecca Lewis
• Alicia Raygoza
• Bonnie Sides
• Kou Vang
• Marcey Winawer
• Kimberly Young
• Erica Zepeda
• Ananya Akkaraju, Student Member

Commissioners Absent:

• Javier Hernandez
• Senator Ben Allen
• Assemblymember James Ramos

Executive Director:

• Mike Torres

State Board of Education Liaison Present:

• Cynthia Glover Woods

2026 Instructional Quality Commission Orientation

The Commission conducted an orientation that provided an opportunity for new and returning commissioners to learn and reflect upon the Commission’s policies, procedures, and goals and to focus on some training areas which time does not permit during the year.

Public Comment: None

Preliminary Report of Action
Thursday, January 22, 2026

Instructional Quality Commissioners Present:

• Lena Bradshaw
• Gia Daniller
• Jacquay Durant
• Cheryl Frye
• Julie Goldman
• Charice Guerra
• Jennifer Hicks
• Janet Lanning
• Rebecca Lewis
• Alicia Raygoza
• Bonnie Sides
• Kou Vang
• Marcey Winawer
• Kimberly Young
• Erica Zepeda
• Ananya Akkaraju, Student Member

Commissioners Absent:

• Javier Hernandez
• Senator Ben Allen
• Assemblymember James Ramos

Executive Director:

• Mike Torres

State Board of Education Liaison Present:

• Cynthia Glover Woods

Please note that the complete proceedings of the January 22, 2026, Instructional Quality Commission (Commission or IQC) meeting, including closed-captioning, are available on the IQC 2026 Public Meeting Notices, Agendas, Minutes, Webcasts web page.

1. Full Instructional Quality Commission
   
   
   1. Call to Order
      2025 Commission Chair Charice Guerra called the meeting to order at approximately 9:00 a.m.
      
      
   2. Salute to the Flag
      Commissioner Akkaraju led the salute to the flag.
      
      
   3. Overview of Agenda
      Commissioner Guerra gave an overview of the agenda.
      
      
   4. 2026 Election of Chair, Vice Chair, and Three Executive Committee Members
      
      Commissioner Guerra turned the gavel over to Executive Director Mike Torres to conduct the elections. There were three elections to conduct. Executive Director Torres opened the nominations for Commission Chair. Commissioner Lanning nominated Commissioner Hicks.There were no other nominations. Commissioner Hicks was elected 2026 Chair of the IQC by acclamation.
      
      Executive Director Torres opened nominations for Vice Chair. Commissioner Goldman nominated Commissioner Lanning. Commissioner Young nominated Commissioner Raygoza. Commissioner Zepeda nominated Commissioner Vang. There were no other nominations. Commissioner Raygoza was elected 2026 Vice Chair of the IQC by a show of hands. Assemblymember Ramos, Senator Allen, and Commissioner Hernandez were absent from the meeting.
      
      Executive Director Torres opened the nominations for three members to the Executive Committee. Commissioner Guerra nominated Commissioner Vang. Commissioner Vang nominated Commissioner Guerra. Commissioner Hicks nominated Commissioner Lanning. There were no other nominations. Commissioners Guerra, Lanning, and Vang were elected 2026 Executive Committee Members of the IQC by acclamation. Executive Director Torres turned the gavel over to 2026 Commission Chair Hicks. Assemblymember Ramos, Senator Allen, and Commissioner Hernandez were absent from the meeting.
      
      
   5. Approval of Minutes for the December 4, 2025, Commission Meeting (Action)
      
      Action: Commissioner Lanning moved to approve the December 4, 2025, Commission meeting minutes. Commissioner Bradshaw seconded the motion. There was no discussion or public comment. The motion was approved by a majority vote of the members present (13–0). Assemblymember Ramos, Senator Allen, and Commissioner Hernandez were absent from the meeting. Commissioners Lewis and Young abstained.
      
      
   6. Report of the Chair
      Commission Chair Hicks gave a report.
      
      
   7. Executive Director’s Report
      Executive Director Mike Torres gave a report.
      
      
   8. Report of the State Board of Education
      Board member Glover Woods gave a report.
      
      
   9. 2026 IQC Goals (Action)
      The Commission discussed the proposed 2026 goals as follows:
      
      
      1. Ensure every member of the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) understands and adheres to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act.
         
         
      2. Provide support for the upcoming English Language Arts/English Language Development (ELA/ELD) Instructional Materials Follow-up Adoption.
         
         
      3. Provide support for the launch events, rollout plans, and professional learning activities associated with curriculum frameworks, model curricula, and instructional materials as appropriate.
         
         
      4. Ensure that the IQC’s priorities reflect the advisory needs of the State Board of Education.
         
         
      5. Engage and participate in a continuous improvement protocol as the IQC works through relevant curriculum and instruction issues.
         
         
      6. Provide guidance, feedback, and support for the development of the Personal Finance Curriculum Guide.

Action: Commissioner Daniller moved to approve the proposed 2026 IQC goals. Commissioner Lewis seconded the motion. There was no discussion or public comment. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote of the members present (15–0). Assemblymember Ramos, Senator Allen, and Commissioners Hernandez were absent from the meeting.

10. Approve 2027 IQC Meeting Dates
    Action: Commissioner Young moved to approve the proposed 2027 IQC meeting dates. Commissioner Raygoza seconded the motion. There was no discussion or public comment. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote of the members present (15–0). Assemblymember Ramos, Senator Allen, and Commissioner Hernandez were absent from the meeting.
    
    
2. Executive Committee
   Commission Chair Hicks called the Executive Committee to order.
   
   
   1. Appointment of Subject Matter Committee Chairs (Action)
      Commission Chair Hicks appointed the Subject Matter Committee (SMC) Chairs as noted below.
      
      
   2. Assignment of Members to SMCs (Action)
      Commission Chair Hicks and the Executive Committee made the following appointments and assignments: (NOTE: The Commission Chair serves as an ex-officio member of all the Commission’s SMCs and Ad Hoc Committee.)
      
      
      • Arts SMC
        Chair: Commissioner Durant
        Members: Commissioners Guerra and Daniller
        
        
      • Education Technology Committee
        Chair: Commissioner Zepeda
        Members: Commissioners Lanning and Sides
        
        
      • ELA/ELD SMC
        Chair: Commissioner Guerra
        Members: Commissioners Durant, Goldman, Sides, Vang, Young, and Zepeda
        
        
      • Health SMC
        Chair: Commissioner Frye
        Members: Commissioners Bradshaw Young
        
        
      • History–Social Science (HSS) SMC
        Chair: Commissioner Young
        Members: Commissioners Daniller and Durant
        
        
      • Mathematics SMC
        Chair: Commissioner Bradshaw
        Members: Commissioners Akkaraju, Frye, Hernandez, Lanning, Lewis, and Sides
        
        
      • Personal Finance SMC
        Chair: Commissioner Lanning
        Members: Commissioners Akkaraju, Bradshaw, Hernandez, Lewis, Young, and Zepeda
        
        
      • Physical Education SMC
        Chair: Commissioner Vang
        Members: Commissioners Frye and Hernandez
        
        
      • Science SMC
        Chair: Commissioner Frye
        Members: Commissioners Lewis and Zepeda
        
        
      • World Languages SMC
        Chair: Commissioner Raygoza
        Members: Commissioners Goldman and Daniller
        
        
      • Ad Hoc Committee on State Board of Education Initiatives
        Chair: Commissioner Akkaraju
        Members: Commissioners Daniller, Durant, Goldman, Guerra, Raygoza, and Vang
        
        
   3. Designation of Liaisons (Action)
      Commission Chair Hicks made the following liaison appointments:
      
      2026 Commission Liaisons
      1. Concurrence Committee for California Subject Matter Project: Commissioner Janet Lanning
         
         
      2. Sunshine Club: Commissioner Lanning

There was no public comment.

3. Ad Hoc Committee on California System of Support
   Committee Chair Akkaraju called the Ad Hoc Committee on State Board of Education Initiatives meeting to order.
   
   
   1. Election of Vice Chair (Action)
      Committee Chair Akkaraju called for nominations for vice chair of the committee. Commissioner Guerra nominated Commissioner Durant. With no further nominations, Commissioner Durant was elected vice chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on State Board of Education Initiatives by acclamation. There was no public comment.
      
      
4. Arts Subject Matter Committee
   Committee Chair Durant called the Arts SMC meeting to order.
   
   
   1. Election of Vice Chair (Action)
      Committee Chair Durant called for nominations for vice chair of the committee. Commissioner Guerra nominated Commissioner Daniller. With no further nominations, Commissioner Daniller was elected vice chair of the Arts SMC by acclamation. There was no public comment.
      
      
5. Education Technology Committee
   Committee Chair Zepeda called the Education Technology Committee meeting to order.
   
   
   1. Election of Vice Chair (Action)
      Committee Chair Zepeda called for nominations for vice chair of the committee. Commissioner Lanning nominated Commissioner Sides. With no further nominations, Commissioner Sides was elected vice chair of the Education Technology Committee by acclamation. There was no public comment.
      
      
6. English Language Arts/English Language Development Subject Matter Committee
   Committee Chair Guerra called the ELA/ELD SMC meeting to order.
   
   
   1. Election of Vice Chair (Action)
      Committee Chair Guerra called for nominations for vice chair of the committee. Commissioner Hicks nominated Commissioner Vang. With no further nominations, Commissioner Vang was elected vice chair of the ELA/ELD SMC by acclamation. There was no public comment.
      
      
7. Health Subject Matter Committee
   Committee Chair Frye called the Health SMC meeting to order.
   
   
   1. Election of Vice Chair (Action)
      Committee Chair Frye called for nominations for vice chair of the committee. Commission Chair Hicks nominated Commissioner Young. With no further nominations, Commissioner Young was elected vice chair of the Health SMC by acclamation. There was no public comment.
      
      
8. History–Social Science Subject Matter Committee
   Committee Chair Young called the HSS SMC meeting to order.
   
   
   1. Election of Vice Chair (Action)
      Committee Chair Young called for nominations for vice chair of the committee. Commission Chair Hicks nominated Commissioner Durant. With no further nominations, Commissioner Durant was elected vice chair of the HSS SMC by acclamation. There was no public comment.
      
      
9. Mathematics Subject Matter Committee
   Committee Chair Bradshaw called the Mathematics SMC meeting to order.
   
   
   1. Election of Vice Chair (Action)
      Committee Chair Bradshaw called for nominations for vice chair of the committee. Commissioner Akkaraju nominated Commissioner Frye. Commissioner Bradshaw nominated Commissioner Lanning. With no further nominations, Commissioner Lanning was elected vice chair of the Mathematics SMC by a show of hands. Commissioner Hernandez was absent from the meeting. There was no public comment.
      
      
10. Personal Finance Subject Matter Committee
    Committee Chair Lanning called the Personal Finance SMC meeting to order.
    
    
    1. Election of Vice Chair (Action)
       Committee Chair Lanning called for nominations for vice chair of the committee. Commissioner Zepeda nominated Commissioner Bradshaw. Commission Chair Hicks nominated Commissioner Young. With no further nominations, Commissioner Bradshaw was elected vice chair of the Personal Finance SMC by a show of hands. Commissioner Hernandez was absent from the meeting. There was no public comment.
       
       
11. Physical Education Subject Matter Committee
    Committee Chair called Vang the Physical Education SMC meeting to order.
    
    
    1. Election of Vice Chair (Action)
       Committee Chair Vang called for nominations for vice chair of the committee. Chair Hicks nominated Commissioner Frye. With no further nominations, Commissioner Frye was elected vice chair of the Physical Education SMC by acclamation. There was no public comment.
       
       
12. Science Subject Matter Committee
    Commission Chair Frye called the Science SMC meeting to order.
    
    
    1. Election of Vice Chair (Action)
       Commission Chair Frye called for nominations for vice chair of the committee. Commission Chair Hicks nominated Commissioner Zepeda. With no further nominations, Commissioner Zepeda was elected vice chair of the Science SMC by acclamation. There was no public comment.
       
       
13. World Languages Subject Matter Committee
    Committee Chair Raygoza called the World Languages SMC meeting to order.
    
    
    1. Election of Vice Chair (Action)
       Committee Chair Raygoza called for nominations for vice chair of the committee. Commission Chair Hicks nominated Commissioner Goldman. With no further nominations, Commissioner Goldman was elected vice chair of the World Languages SMC by acclamation. There was no public comment.
       
       
14. Full Commission Reconvenes
    
    
    1. Adjournment
       Commission Chair Hicks adjourned the meeting at approximately 10:38 a.m.