SACRAMENTO — A new four‑bill package moving through the Legislature could reshape how California supports its public schools, with potential long‑term implications for districts in Merced and Stanislaus counties.
The proposal is part of the California School Boards Association’s “SOS for Student Achievement” campaign, which centers on what the organization describes as the state’s accountability gap. CSBA argues that while local school districts and county offices of education are routinely judged on test scores, attendance and student progress, the state itself has not been held to the same standard for whether its policies and spending are improving achievement.
The campaign points to persistent statewide gaps: fewer than four in 10 students proficient in math, about half meeting standards in English language arts, and some student groups still in the 20 to 30 percent proficiency range. CSBA says local educational agencies are often expected to close those gaps even though the state controls major elements of the system, including funding, policy and compliance rules.
The legislative package seeks to change that by creating a unified statewide plan, clearer measurements of progress, annual reviews of state spending and a more permanent oversight structure within the State Board of Education.
— AB 2225, by Assemblymember Darshana Patel, would create a State Plan to Close the Achievement Gap, known as CTAG. The plan would bring together stakeholders to outline long‑term strategies, set benchmarks and evaluate how state agencies and programs are performing.
— AB 2514, by Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom, would establish a public “State of the Achievement Gap Dashboard,” designed to show how well the state is implementing the plan. Rather than focusing only on district performance, the dashboard would track whether state‑level systems are producing results.
— AB 2149, by Assemblymember Robert Garcia, would require the Legislative Analyst’s Office to annually review whether the state budget aligns with the CTAG plan, including whether funded mandates support the state’s stated goals.
— AB 2202, by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, would create a CTAG Commission within the State Board of Education to monitor state programs intended to help local schools close achievement gaps. The commission would also work with the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence to improve statewide support systems.
For districts in Merced and Stanislaus counties, supporters say the package could bring more predictability and coherence to a system often shaped by shifting state priorities, one‑time funding and overlapping initiatives. Rural communities and smaller districts — which frequently operate with limited staff — could especially benefit from clearer direction and better alignment between state policy and budget decisions.
CSBA President and Solana Beach School District trustee Debra Schade said the proposal reframes accountability.
“The path to universally high‑quality education is rooted in partnership, alignment, coherence and reciprocal accountability, not mandates and red tape disconnected from local needs,” Schade said. “AB 2225 shifts the focus from compliance to support.”
Hope Elementary School District Superintendent Melanie Matta said the package recognizes that accountability should not fall solely on local schools.
“While districts are held fully accountable for results — a responsibility we wholeheartedly accept — accountability must be shared, not one‑sided,” Matta said.
One of the most visible pieces for the public would be the dashboard created under AB 2514. Supporters say it would give families, educators and lawmakers a clearer picture of whether state‑level decisions are improving student outcomes.
CSBA President‑elect and Ventura Unified trustee Sabrena Rodriguez said the dashboard fills a missing piece.
“Locally, we measure school and district performance, but what’s missing now is a way for the public to evaluate whether state‑level decisions are having the desired effect,” Rodriguez said.
Maple Elementary School District Superintendent Bryan Easter said the dashboard would help identify which state programs are effective and which are not.
“There is no clear statewide picture of what legislative efforts are working and those that are not,” Easter said. “AB 2514 would finally let us see how the state is performing in supporting one of its biggest investments — our school districts.”
The package has also drawn support from labor groups. CFT Legislative Director Tristan Brown said the bills would bring more coherence to how the state manages public education.
The four bills advanced unanimously out of the Assembly Education Committee and now move to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
As the package continues through the Legislature, school leaders in Merced and Stanislaus counties are watching closely. Supporters say the outcome could determine whether California continues with fragmented school support or shifts toward a more coordinated model built around shared accountability and measurable results.
