Big News: California Gives $2.4 Billion for Special Education and Changes School Leadership

What Happened in Simple Terms?

Imagine your state is like a giant classroom. The teacher-in-charge (Governor Gavin Newsom) just signed a paper (a bill) that does two big things:

• Gives $2.4 billion (that’s 2,400 million dollars!) to help kids who need special learning support (special education).
• Changes who is the boss of the state’s education department.

All of California’s school agencies will get equal access to this new special-education money. The goal is to spend more money on each student.

There’s Already a Lot of School Money Planned

This $2.4 billion is extra. It comes on top of the governor’s plan to spend more than $151 billion on public schools from transitional kindergarten (the step before regular kindergarten) through 12th grade, as written in the 2026 budget.

Important: Even with this new money, some people are upset because of the other change—who gets to oversee the Department of Education.

How the Leadership Change Works (Step by Step)

In late June, state lawmakers quickly passed a bipartisan bill (that means both big political parties agreed). Here is what it does:

1. It moves the power over the Department of Education to the governor’s office.
2. It creates a new job called Education Commissioner.
3. The governor will pick this commissioner (not the voters).
4. The commissioner will take over most of the duties that used to belong to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Important: The superintendent is an elected job—voters choose this person, and the position is nonpartisan (not tied to a political party). It is written into California’s constitution (the state’s rulebook). The new law shifts that power away from an elected official to an appointed one.

Why Are People Arguing About This?

Governor Newsom Says: “We Need Change”

When CBS News Sacramento asked Newsom about the changes, he said he and state lawmakers are answering requests from across the state to reform (improve) California’s public school system.

Here is what Newsom said (in his own words, talking about State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, who criticized the move and was not at the announcement):

"You know, change has its enemies, and I’m for change… I’m not defending the status quo with respect to the individual. You mentioned, [about Thurmond not being there] He and I have a fundamental disagreement, and I couldn’t be more proud that the legislature and the people of the state demanded a new approach, and I was proud to attach my signature to that new approach."

In kid terms: Newsom says, “Some people don’t like change, but I do. The old way wasn’t working, and I’m happy the lawmakers and people wanted a new plan.”

Critics Say: “This Is Not Fair!”

CBS News Sacramento also spoke with Herb Morgan, a Republican candidate for California State Controller (a money watchdog job). He said the changes are “shameful” and a threat to democracy (the system where people vote).

Morgan said:

"They tried four times to make these changes at the ballot box and they failed four times. So what do you do when the Democrat, the electorate, the people of the state of California, vote down what you want to do as a dictator? You then go around the voters."

In simple words: “They asked voters four times and lost four times. Now they just skipped the voters.”

CBS also asked Superintendent Thurmond’s office to reply to Newsom’s claims. Thurmond’s team said again (like they did in recent weeks) that this decision should have been left to the voters.

Summary

• Money: Gov. Newsom signed a bill giving $2.4 billion for special education, shared equally by school agencies to boost per-student spending. This is added to $151 billion+ already planned for TK–12 schools in 2026.
• Power shift: A new bipartisan law moves education oversight to a governor-appointed Education Commissioner, reducing the role of the elected State Superintendent (a nonpartisan constitutional office).
• Reactions: Newsom says it’s a needed reform demanded by the state. Critics like Herb Morgan and Supt. Thurmond say voters should have decided, not lawmakers and the governor.

FAQ

1. What is special education?
It’s school programs that give extra help to kids who learn differently, such as children with disabilities or learning challenges.

2. What does “bipartisan” mean?
It means a bill was supported by both major political parties (Democrats and Republicans) in the legislature.

3. What is the “ballot box”?
It’s the way people vote to make big decisions—like electing officials or approving changes.

4. Why is the superintendent job a big deal?
Normally, voters pick the superintendent, so the person answers to the public. The new law gives most of that power to a commissioner chosen by the governor instead.

5. Is the $2.4 billion taking money from other schools?
No. The article says it is in addition to the huge $151 billion already planned for regular public schools.