Dear County and District Superintendents, Charter Administrators, and School Principals:

Commitment to Continuity for California’s Children, Schools, and Families

We have heard many questions and concerns from the field following last week’s Executive Orders and additional communications from the White House and United States Department of Education. We are pushing back against federal efforts to block, pause, or condition federal assistance for basic educational services, and we want to encourage all educators to remain focused on the important local work of educating our state’s children.

On Friday, January 31, a federal judge issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) in a lawsuit filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 22 other State Attorneys General, in which I am a declarant. This TRO blocks the federal government’s efforts to pause or terminate existing education assistance to the states until a subsequent hearing.

I want to be clear: The Golden State’s vision and values remain unchanged. We will continue to use real data and research to improve student achievement and well-being through statewide initiatives and investments like the Superintendent’s Cohort to Move the Needle on Student Achievement, the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists grant, and California Community Schools.

I encourage all educators to remain focused on accelerating the achievement of our students. Together, we have reduced chronic absenteeism for all student groups, and we have begun to close persistent achievement gaps, especially for our socioeconomically disadvantaged students. We must build upon these efforts to make sure that all our young people are able to learn, grow, and thrive. Now is not the time to be distracted by external efforts to demean and divide.

As I visit schools across our state, I am always impressed by the programs that our local educational agencies have designed to put state and federal dollars to work for kids. Please continue to stay the course with local programs that are producing results. Now is the time when our students need consistency, support, and community more than ever.

We know that our kids deserve our best, and we will continue to have your back every day so that you can give your best. Together, we will keep working to move the needle for student achievement, no matter what.