Fresno, CA — Candidates for California State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) faced questions Thursday on the future of California schools during a Fresno forum that brought education equity, school funding, and student opportunity to the center of the statewide race. Hosted by the Alliance for Candidate Engagement in Education, the event highlighted major issues shaping the future of public education ahead of the election.

Candidates responded to questions on the changing role of the State Superintendent, California’s lagging per-pupil education spending, the expansion of community schools, and how the state plans to build a teacher workforce that better reflects California students.

While candidates broadly agreed on the need to expand community schools, they offered differing views on education governance and accountability, with some candidates emphasizing collaboration and community engagement while others called for stronger enforcement and curriculum oversight.

“What emerged from the discussion was broad agreement that California’s education system is not working for far too many students,” said Dr. Christopher J. Nellum, Executive Director of EdTrust-West. “Candidates offered the Central Valley their ideas to improve accountability, strengthen public schools, and expand opportunity for the students and communities too often left behind.”

Nearly 100 community members, educators, students, and advocates attended the forum, which featured candidates Richard Barrera, Gus Mattamal, Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, and a representative for Frank Lara.

Recordings of the forum can be found here.

The event is part of a broader statewide effort to increase voter awareness and engagement ahead of the election.