California’s often-divided education politics produced an unusual alliance this week, as charter school advocates and the state’s largest teachers union lined up behind the same candidate for state superintendent of public instruction.
The California Charter Schools Association announced its support for Richard Barrera, president of the San Diego Unified School District board, four months after Barrera won the endorsement of the California Teachers Association. The shared backing is notable in a state where charter school organizations and teachers unions have frequently spent heavily against one another in education races.
The contrast is especially sharp compared with the 2018 race for state superintendent, when the teachers union supported Tony Thurmond and charter advocates backed Marshall Tuck. That campaign drew tens of millions of dollars in outside spending and became one of California’s most closely watched education battles. Thurmond ultimately won.
This year, both camps are supporting Barrera, a development he said “came as a bit of a surprise.”
Barrera said San Diego’s education politics may help explain the crossover support. Unlike in some parts of California, he said, local school board races and education debates in San Diego have not typically been framed as a direct fight between charter schools and unions. During his time on the board, the share of students attending charter schools in the district increased.
He also pointed to San Diego Unified’s handling of school facilities funding. Barrera said the district included charter schools when distributing money for campus improvements through local bond measures, creating what he described as an uncommon working relationship between charter and traditional public school leaders.
Gregory McGinity, executive director of the charter association’s lobbying arm, said in a statement that Barrera has demonstrated that “supporting educators and supporting high-quality charter public schools are not mutually exclusive.”
The endorsement does not mean the two organizations are now aligned on broader education policy. The California Teachers Association and charter school advocates remain at odds on many issues involving school oversight, funding and labor rules.
CTA President David Goldberg said the union did not endorse Barrera as part of an effort to form a coalition with charter organizations. Still, he said he did not find the charter association’s decision shocking.
“Sometimes even people who don’t see things the same way … we still want someone who is very capable running this department,” Goldberg said. “That benefits all students.”
The state superintendent oversees California’s Department of Education and plays a major role in shaping policy for public schools, including those in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The race is expected to draw attention from educators, parents and advocacy groups across the state as candidates debate how to address student achievement, school funding and the future of public education in California.
Original source: CalMatters
