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NewsCalMattersNovember 2, 2026Los Angeles County

USC report highlights school board burnout and uncontested races in California

Photo: CalMatters

A recent University of Southern California report reveals that about half of California school board candidates run uncontested, driven by factors such as budget cuts, labor disputes, immigration enforcement, and hostile political climates. While state law now permits higher monthly stipends up to $4,500 and expands mandatory training requirements, many school board members are choosing not to seek re-election due to emotional exhaustion and high stress.

EducationLocal GovernmentElectionsSchool BoardsState Politics
Read the full story at CalMatters

Why It Matters

The high rate of uncontested school board seats reduces public scrutiny and opens avenues for interest groups to wield disproportionate influence over K-12 education policies affecting millions of students across California.

Key Facts

  • Approximately half of California school board candidates run uncontested, according to a recent USC report.
  • Assembly Bill 1390 permits school districts to pay board members up to $4,500 a month depending on district size.
  • School board members cited budget cuts, labor disputes, immigration enforcement impacts, and hostile political climates as reasons for not seeking re-election.
  • New school board members in California are currently only required to take a two-hour ethics course, with a four-hour finance course becoming mandatory next year.
  • Latinas are seeing an increase in school board representation, accounting for at least 20% of members in districts with high Latino student populations in 2023.
  • The California School Boards Association offers a 40-hour 'master in governance' program covering topics like collective bargaining and the Brown Act, though it is not mandatory.
  • Cultural disputes regarding LGBTQ+ history and transgender student rights have heightened tensions in swing-region school board meetings.

Who's Mentioned

PersonDaisy González“Director of the California Student Aid Commission.”PersonMaría Anguiano“Chair of the Board of Regents of the University of California.”OrganizationAsociación de Juntas Escolares de California“Offers training programs for school board members.”PersonMonique Limón“State senator and president pro tempore / former school board member.”OrganizationAsamblea“Passed Assembly Bill 1390 regarding school board stipends.”PersonJulie Marsh“Professor of education at USC and co-author of the report.”PersonSasha Renée Pérez“State senator and chair of the Senate Education Committee.”OrganizationSanta Rosa City Schools“School district where Nick Caston serves.”PersonNabil Kherfan“School board member for Central Unified School District in Fresno.”OrganizationDepartamento de Educación de los Estados Unidos“Federal department facing closure under the Trump administration.”PersonTroy Flint“Spokesperson for the California school boards association.”OrganizationUSC“Conducted a recent report on California school boards.”PersonNick Caston“Santa Rosa City Schools board president.”OrganizationCentral Unified“School district in Fresno.”PersonMildred García“Chancellor of the California State University system.”OrganizationHispanas Organized for Political Equality“Nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles tracking Latina representation.”PersonHelen Torres“Executive director of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality.”PersonYammilette Rodríguez“Trustee of California State University.”