Latest news with #TonyThurmond
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Will she or won't she? The California governor's race waits on Kamala Harris
The Democrats running for California governor have spent the spring and summer working to win over the powerful donors and interest groups who could help them squeak through a competitive primary election. But the candidates, and many deep-pocketed Democrats, are still waiting for the decision that will have the biggest impact on the race: whether former Vice President Kamala Harris is running. Since Harris lost to President Trump in November, the race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom has been in suspended animation, with candidates trying to plan their campaigns without knowing who their biggest opponents will be. A few are making contingency plans to run for other offices. And some major donors are waiting to write big checks. "It creates a little bit of a limbo situation," said Tony Thurmond, the state superintendent of public instruction who launched his gubernatorial campaign in 2023. The Democrats in the race are talking to many of the same potential donors, Thurmond said, and most have the same question: "Is she going to run?" The only answer, Thurmond said, is an unsatisfying one: "We don't know." Read more: Who is running for California governor in 2026? Meet the candidates Since leaving Washington in January, Harris has mostly stayed out of the public eye, settling back into her Brentwood home with her husband, Doug Emhoff, and talking to close friends and confidantes about what she should do next. She is weighing whether to leave politics, run for governor or run for president for a third time. She is expected to make a decision about the gubernatorial race by the end of summer. The Democrats who are already running for governor lack Harris' star power, and her entry could upend the race. But the former vice president would also face questions about her 107-day sprint to the White House, what she knew about President Biden's decline and whether someone who has run unsuccessfully for president twice really wants to be California's governor. "She is looking closely where is the best place to put her energy and focus and her time," said Debbie Mesloh, a longtime Harris ally. The few public appearances Harris has made this year — meeting with firefighters in Altadena, attending a high school graduation in Compton and headlining a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in the Bay Area — have been fodder for those trying to read the tea leaves. What does it mean that Harris skipped the state Democratic Party convention? That Emhoff has taken a teaching job at USC? Harris had originally planned to take a two-week vacation at the end of this month but has canceled her trip, according to someone familiar with her plans. Harris has also been in New York, where she attended Broadway plays and the exclusive Met Gala; in San Francisco, where she dined with her niece Meena at the high-end Japanese restaurant Shoji; and in Los Angeles, where she has shopped for groceries at a 99 Ranch Market in Westwood and the Brentwood Farmers Market. As the months have worn on, some gubernatorial campaigns have started to think that Harris' victory feels like less of a foregone conclusion than if she'd announced in January after leaving office. Read more: Democrats running for California governor take digs at Kamala Harris' delayed decision on the race Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former Biden Cabinet secretary Xavier Becerra and former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter of Irvine have said that they will stay in the race no matter what. Veteran state Senate leader Toni Atkins of San Diego said she is also staying in if Harris runs, saying in a statement that "while the vice president has her own path, our campaign is moving full speed ahead." Former state Controller Betty Yee said in an interview this week that even if Harris runs, she is staying in, too. "No, no, no," Yee said, of the possibility of seeking another statewide office. Being governor, she said, "is what I feel like I've prepared to do. I will be staying in the race and really leaning into my fiscal and financial background." Yee said when she talks to donors, they want to know two things: how California can push back against the Trump administration, and what she will do if Harris enters the race. Dan Newman, a political strategist who's worked for Newsom, Harris and several of the gubernatorial candidates, said that the race is at an odd inflection point, with candidates who "don't know who their potential voters are, because they don't know who they're running against," and some donors who are waiting — at least for now — to write big checks. "They've got a good excuse to not give, because even if they are a big fan of a candidate who's in the race now, they don't know if the candidate will stay in the race," Newman said. "Then there are others who don't want to give to someone who might run against her." Eric Jaye, a political strategist who previously worked for Villaraigosa's 2018 gubernatorial campaign and advised Newsom when he was mayor of San Francisco, said he's hearing "frustration" from donors who are ready to see the race pick up speed. "They're not going to wait much longer," Jaye said. "There are going to be donors who say, 'We have to go. We're not going to wait for you.'" But even if Harris entered, that wouldn't be a guarantee that donors would back her again, including those who are angry that she spent nearly $1.5 billion in campaign funds in her compressed campaign for the White House in 2024. "The money is very, very upset with her," said gubernatorial candidate Stephen Cloobeck, a businessman and Democratic donor who is running for California governor. "They're my friends. I'm part of that money. Everyone is thoroughly reeling." The amount of money that candidates raise is one way to gauge their support — and prospects. That picture remains a little fuzzy, though, since gubernatorial candidates have until July 31 to report their fundraising hauls from the first half of the year. The only candidate to release numbers so far is Becerra, who said he raised $2.4 million since entering the race in early April, including a $1.1-million transfer from his congressional campaign account. Becerra's campaign has $2 million on hand, including the largest contributions allowed by law — $39,200 — from the politically connected Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and Pechanga Band of Indians. Campaigns are required to report contributions of $5,000 or more shortly after they receive them. Those figures don't represent total fundraising, but can still show a campaign's trajectory. Three of the eight candidates have raised less than $100,000 this year in chunks of more than $5,000 at a time, state data show. Yee reported $71,900 and Thurmond, $32,500. Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis reported raising $70,000, including $5,000 from Google. Her campaign said Kounalakis, who has been raising money since entering the race in April 2023, has $9 million on hand. "I want to be clear that I'm in this race to win," Kounalakis said. Villaraigosa, who entered the race last summer, has raised almost $1 million this year through large donations, data show. Atkins reported about $381,000 this year, and Cloobeck, about $132,000. Porter, who entered the race in March, reported almost $475,000 in larger contributions, according to state data. She also transferred $942,000 from her U.S. Senate account to her gubernatorial account, according to federal filings made public Tuesday. Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump administration freezes $6.8 billion in federal education funds; California hit hard
The Trump administration on Monday moved to withhold a projected $6.8 billion nationwide in education funds — including at least $811 million from California — money appropriated by Congress to boost teacher training, after-school programs and classroom technology and to help students who are learning English and those who are from migrant families. Although the frozen funds make up less than 1% of California's total education budget, they have an outsize cumulative effect. And they involve dollars that already are accounted for in terms of staff hired and programs planned. The disruption would be substantial — and state education leaders, including Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, said Monday evening that the problems are unfolding immediately. 'There have been many rumors about the Trump Administration cutting education funding, and now that rumors have become reality, it is worse than we imagined," Thurmond said in a statement to The Times. "Trump is illegally impounding billions of dollars appropriated by Congress to serve students this fiscal year." "This illegal action will harm students starting now," Thurmond added. "It cannot stand!' The administration listed the frozen programs by their federal designation: Title III-A, for example, supports students who are learning English. Title I-C helps overcome the learning challenges of the children of migrant workers. Both programs had all their funds withheld. Read more: California law faces revise as high court allows parents to 'opt out' of LGBTQ+ school stories Word of the federal action began to trickle out to worried school systems Monday afternoon. The notification, in an email from the federal Department of Education, was 84 words in length — and, according to education officials and advocates, included no amplification: "Given the change in Administrations, the Department is reviewing the FY 2025 funding for the [Title I-C, II-A, III-A, IV-A, IV-B] grant program(s), and decisions have not yet been made concerning submissions and awards for this upcoming academic year," the email began. "Accordingly, the Department will not be issuing Grant Award Notifications obligating funds for these programs on July 1 prior to completing that review." The notification concluded: "The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President's priorities and the Department's statutory responsibilities.' The programs noted in the email make up more than 10% of federal spending on K-12 schools in 33 states, according to the Learning Policy Institute. The targets of the freeze are not especially surprising — all of the withheld funds are from programs the administration wants to slash or eliminate. And those details — and the justification for them — are clearly spelled out in President Trump's budget proposal for the next federal fiscal year, which begins in October. Read more: California violated civil rights of female students by allowing trans athletes to compete, feds say But the Trump administration is freezing funds that Congress approved for the fiscal year already in progress, which began in October 2024. Because of the way federal, state and local budgets line up, this money was due to reach states Tuesday and to be spent as part of the budget for the school district fiscal year, which begins Tuesday. School districts — on the expectation they would receive these funds appropriated by Congress — have generally already hired those expected to carry out these programs; many are long-standing efforts. The Education Department declined to comment late Monday — referring inquiries to the Office of Management and Budget. That office too had no immediate comment. But the administration already has made clear its rationale for ending these efforts in its budget proposal, which on Monday was inching closer to congressional approval. "To end overreach from Washington and restore the rightful role of State oversight in education, the Budget proposes to eliminate the misnamed English Language Acquisition program which actually de-emphasizes English primacy by funding [nongovernmental organizations] and States to encourage bilingualism," the administration stated. "The historically low reading scores for all students mean States and communities need to unite — not divide — classrooms using evidence-based literacy instruction materials to improve outcomes for all students." Read more: Revised LAUSD budget saves jobs today, trims future retiree health benefit contributions Advocates for English learners support "evidence-based literacy instruction," but take issue with much of the rest of the administration's assertions, including the claim that programs to help students learning English are divisive. "We want our students to gain proficiency in English so that they can access their education in English," said Martha Hernandez, executive director of Californians Together, a coalition of groups that advocates for English learners. "And the majority of English learners are in English-only settings. These funds help students learn English." Hernandez said there are about 5 million English learners speaking 100 different languages nationwide — about 1.1 million in California. The cut to migrant education is justified in budget documents as eliminating "programs that work to the detriment of children's academic success by encouraging movement from, rather than stability and consistency in, a single location. These programs have not been proven effective, are extremely costly, and encourage ineligible non-citizens to access [services] , stripping resources from American students." The migrant program's effectiveness is open to reasonable debate, but the assertion that it encourages lack of stability is difficult to square with the reality on the ground. Los Angeles Unified School District uses this funding for academic support to provide stability and academic continuity for these students and their families. The program in Nebraska describes itself as providing "educational services for migrant children to help reduce obstacles that result from repeated moves across school district boundaries." For students ages 3 to 5, the effort includes "promoting interest in learning and filling educational gaps at home to prepare students for Kindergarten" and also "helping families find affordable preschool options." The funding freeze has become yet another area of conflict between the Trump administration and local educators, especially in blue states and urban areas. However, this funding pullback, if it stands, also will fall heavily on rural areas and red states. Trump's authority to withhold these funds will almost certainly be challenged in court. It is unclear whether it will survive scrutiny within Congress. Federal law prohibits the executive branch from refusing to distribute congressionally appropriated dollars, although the president can ask Congress for permission to hold back funds. Congress has 45 days after such a request is made to approve the president's action. Otherwise, the money must be spent as originally intended. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Trump administration freezes $6.8 billion in education funds nationwide, California hard hit
The Trump administration on Monday moved to withhold a projected $6.8 billion nationwide in education funds — including at least $811 million from California — money appropriated by Congress to boost teacher training, after-school programs, classroom technology and to help students who are learning English and those who are from migrant families. While the frozen funds make up less than 1% of California's total education budget, they are massive in their cumulative impact. And they involve dollars that already are accounted for in terms of staff hired and programs planned. The disruption would be substantial — and state education leaders, including Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, said Monday evening that the problems are unfolding immediately. 'There have been many rumors about the Trump Administration cutting education funding, and now that rumors have become reality, it is worse than we imagined,' Thurmond said in a statement to The Times. 'Trump is illegally impounding billions of dollars appropriated by Congress to serve students this fiscal year.' 'This illegal action will harm students starting now,' he added. 'It cannot stand!' The administration listed the frozen programs by their federal designation: Title III-A, for example, supports students who are learning English. Title I-C helps overcome the learning challenges of the children of migrant workers. Both programs had all their funds withheld. Word of the federal action began to trickle out to consternated school systems Monday afternoon. The notification, in an email, from the federal Department of Education was 84 words in length — and, according to education officials and advocates, included no amplification: 'Given the change in Administrations, the Department is reviewing the FY 2025 funding for the [Title I-C, II-A, III-A, IV-A, IV-B] grant program(s), and decisions have not yet been made concerning submissions and awards for this upcoming academic year,' the email began. 'Accordingly, the Department will not be issuing Grant Award Notifications obligating funds for these programs on July 1 prior to completing that review.' The notification concluded: 'The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President's priorities and the Department's statutory responsibilities.' The four programs noted in the email make up more than 10% of federal spending on K-12 schools in 33 states, according to the Learning Policy Institute. The targets of the freeze are not especially surprising — all of the withheld funds are from programs the administration wants to slash or eliminate. And those details — and the justification for them — are clearly spelled out in Trump's budget proposal for the next federal fiscal year, which begins in October. But the Trump administration is freezing funds that Congress approved for the fiscal year already in progress, which began in October 2024. Because of the way federal, state and local budgets line up, this money was due to reach states on July 1 — Tuesday — and to be spent as part of the budget for the school district fiscal year, which begins on July 1. School districts — on the expectation they would receive these funds appropriated by Congress — have generally already hired those expected to carry out these programs; many are longstanding efforts. The Education Department declined to comment late Monday — referring inquiries to the Office of Management and Budget. That office, too, had no immediate comment. But the administration already has made clear its rationale for ending these efforts in its budget proposal, inching closer to congressional approval Monday. 'To end overreach from Washington and restore the rightful role of State oversight in education, the Budget proposes to eliminate the misnamed English Language Acquisition program which actually de-emphasizes English primacy by funding [non-governmental organizations] and States to encourage bilingualism,' the administration stated. 'The historically low reading scores for all students mean States and communities need to unite — not divide — classrooms using evidence-based literacy instruction materials to improve outcomes for all students.' Advocates for English learners support 'evidence-based literacy instruction,' but take issue with much of the rest of the administration's assertions, including the claim that programs to help students learning English are divisive. 'We want our students to gain proficiency in English so that they can access their education in English,' said Martha Hernandez, executive director of Californians Together, a coalition of groups that advocates for English learners. 'And the majority of English learners are in English-only settings. These funds help students learn English.' Hernandez said there are about 5 million English learners speaking 100 different languages nationwide — about 1.1 million in California. The cut to migrant education is justified in budget documents as eliminating 'programs that work to the detriment of children's academic success by encouraging movement from, rather than stability and consistency in, a single location. These programs have not been proven effective, are extremely costly, and encourage ineligible non-citizens to access [services] , stripping resources from American students.' The migrant program's effectiveness is open to reasonable debate, but the assertion that it encourages lack of stability is difficult to square with the reality on the ground. Los Angeles Unified uses this funding for academic support to provide stability and academic continuity for these students and their families. The program in Nebraska describes itself as providing 'educational services for migrant children to help reduce obstacles that result from repeated moves across school district boundaries. For students ages 3 to 5, the effort includes 'promoting interest in learning and filling educational gaps at home to prepare students for Kindergarten' and also 'helping families find affordable preschool options.' The funding freeze has become yet another area of conflict between the Trump administration and local educators, especially in blue states and urban areas. However, this funding pull back, if it stands, also will fall heavily on rural areas and red states. Trump's authority to withhold these funds will almost certainly be challenged in court. It is uncertain whether it will survive scrutiny within Congress. Federal law prohibits the executive branch from refusing to distribute congressionally appropriated dollars although the president can ask Congress for permission to hold back funds. Congress has 45 days after such a request is made to approve the president's action. Otherwise, the money must be spent as originally intended.
Newsweek
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
California Reveals Plans to Boost Literacy as 1 in 4 Struggle with Reading
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. California Governor Gavin Newsom and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond have announced new resources to boost literacy in the state—where almost a third of adults struggle with basic reading. In a news release last week, the California Department of Education announced the California Literacy-Biliteracy Professional Learning Pack, describing it as "a comprehensive suite of resources" designed to enhance literacy instruction and support educators across the state in improving student outcomes, particularly among younger readers. A file photo shows a library in a school in New Jersey. A file photo shows a library in a school in New It Matters California has one of the worst literacy rates in the country. An estimated 28 percent of adults have the lowest literacy level in English, according to the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies. Meanwhile, the latest test results from the 2023-24 school year found that a majority of students in grades three to eight did not meet the standards for reading. Only in 11th grade did more than half of students meet or exceed state standards. What To Know The learning pack includes two literacy guidance documents, according to the state Department of Education. The first is the California Literacy Roadmap's Literacy Content Blocks for English-Medium Classrooms, designed for transitional kindergarten through grade five. The blocks reflect "an intentional approach to literacy that promotes carefully sequenced initial instruction, appropriate practice and reinforcement, intervention as necessary, and meaningful application in English language arts and other content areas," the department said in the news release. The second document is the Preschool Through Third Grade Learning Progressions for Language and Literacy Development, which outlines key developmental milestones and offer examples of "play-based, inquiry-based instruction to support early literacy in both English and students' home languages." The department said the learning tools have been endorsed by a board coalition of experts in literacy and biliteracy instruction, including The Reading League, the California Association for Bilingual Education, and Californians Together. What People Are Saying California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement: "In California, we know that learning to read is the start of the pathway to success. The Literacy Roadmap highlights our multifaceted approach to improving literacy for California's students, including current and proposed initiatives. "When added to our other investments in literacy coaches and reading specialists at high-needs schools and professional development for teachers, we are doubling down on our commitment to ensure no student falls behind in their reading." State Superintendent Tony Thurmond said in a statement: "Literacy is foundational to lifelong learning and academic success. With this release, California takes a significant step forward in providing educators with the tools they need to foster strong literacy and biliteracy development from the earliest years of learning as we move the needle on student achievement, particularly for our youngest readers." California Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher criticized the plan in a statement to The Center Square: "This is classic Newsom. Dress up failure in a bunch of edu-buzzwords and hope no one notices kids still can't read. There's no mention of the state's collapsing test scores. No push for real phonics-based instruction." What's Next The California Department of Education said educators are encouraged to incorporate the materials from the learning packs into their summer and school-year professional development plans.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New literacy pack aims to boost reading skills for students across California
( — State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Tuesday the release of the California Literacy-Biliteracy Professional Learning Pack. California Department of Education stated that this would be a comprehensive suite of resources designed to improve literacy instruction and support educators across the state in improving student outcomes, especially for younger readers. Defense Intelligence Agency IT Specialist arrested for allegedly sharing classified information 'In California, we know that learning to read is the start of the pathway to success. The Literacy Roadmap highlights our multifaceted approach to improving literacy for California's students, including current and proposed initiatives,' Governor Newsom said. 'When added to our other investments in literacy coaches and reading specialists at high-needs schools and professional development for teachers, we are doubling down on our commitment to ensure no student falls behind in their reading.' The new Professional Learning Pack includes two crucial literacy guidance documents, CDE stated. The first is set to be the California Literacy Roadmap's Literacy Content Blocks for English-Medium Classrooms, which is focused on transitional Kindergarten through Grade Five. The roadmap provides instructional recommendations that educators can use to support students as they develop across all areas of literacy and bitliteracy, according to Newsom. The blocks will reflect an intentional approach to literacy that will promote sequenced initial instruction, appropriate practice and reinforcement, intervention as necessary, and meaningful application in English language arts. 'Literacy is foundational to lifelong learning and academic success,' said Superintendent Thurmond. 'With this release, California takes a significant step forward in providing educators with the tools they need to foster strong literacy and biliteracy development from the earliest years of learning as we move the needle on student achievement, particularly for our youngest readers.' The second document is Preschool through Third Grade Learning Progressions for Language and Literacy Development, which will outline key developmental milestones and offer examples of play-based, inquiry-based instruction to support early literacy in both English and students' home languages, according to CDE. 'In California, we're focused on an approach to literacy that supports evidence-based instruction and high-quality professional learning,' said State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond. 'The Literacy Roadmap and the Literacy Learning Progressions provide teachers with key resources and tools they can use to support every child in learning to read with comprehension, write with expression, and explore the world of books with excitement.' Over $120M in banned cannabis seized by CA task force CDE said that these professional learning tools have been endorsed by a board coalition of experts in literacy and biliteracy instruction, which includes The Reading League, the California Association for Bilingual Education, and Californians Together. Educators are encouraged to incorporate the materials into their summer and school-year professional development plans, said CDE. The full Professional Learning Pack can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
