Building a Better California: Josh Newman on the Future of Small & Rural Schools

On this episode of the SSDA Soundwave, host Yuri Calderon sits down with Josh Newman, former State Senator, past Chair of the Senate Education Committee, and current candidate for California State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Their conversation explores the challenges small and rural districts face in a system that often treats them the same as large urban schools, despite vastly different needs. Josh reflects on the growing weight of bureaucracy, the struggle for equitable funding, the need to rethink LCFF, and the importance of defining a clear statewide profile of a graduate. He also shares why he believes CDE must evolve into a more collaborative and supportive partner for districts across the state and explains the single measure he hopes superintendents will use to evaluate his success if elected.