Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:

Informational Hearing of the Statewide Literacy Task Force on 2026 Education Proposals

I am hosting an informational hearing of the Statewide Literacy Task Force regarding educational proposals that I am exploring for the upcoming legislative and budgetary cycles. The hearing is scheduled for Monday, December 1, at 1:30 p.m., at the California Department of Education (CDE) Headquarters (1430 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814).

This hearing is open to members of the public, who may join us in person or virtually on the CDE Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CAEducation.

I will be joined at the hearing by colleagues from the California State Legislature as well as key interest holders and representatives from local educational agencies. Anticipated topics include:

• The future of the California Community Schools initiative,
• Kindergarten for all,
• My proposed five-year plan to help students reach literacy by third grade, and
• Efforts to close the learning gap for African American students and Native American students.

We are at an important moment in public education, and we must remain determined and strategic as we forge ahead. While we are making gains for student achievement, we must continue to hold ambitious goals for every child’s learning and provide the resources needed to scale proven strategies statewide.

In my second term, historic investments in transitional kindergarten through grade 12 (TK–12) education have nearly tripled the level of per pupil funding since the decade prior. These investments in universal preschool, universal school meals, literacy coaches and reading specialists, and community schools have worked in combination to move the needle on student achievement—even in the face of disruptions caused by the uncertainty of federally funded education programs.

This year, for the first time in the history of the California School Dashboard, every accountability indicator for TK–12 schools reflect statewide progress. My 2026 proposals reflect the need to deepen these investments to accelerate achievement for all students and close persistent gaps in student outcomes.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction