Senate Rules Committee hears State Board of Education nominees on literacy, ethnic studies and enrollment; advances reappointments

The Senate Rules Committee on June 25 heard opening remarks from Allison Yoshimoto Tauri and another State Board of Education member during a reappointment hearing that covered literacy instruction, ethnic studies guidance, charter schools, career technical education and accountability for local spending. After public comment and detailed questioning, the committee voted to advance the reappointments to the Senate floor.

Allison Yoshimoto Tauri described coming from a family of small-business owners and noted her experience in schools: “I take this appointment very seriously,” she said, and said her work as a paraprofessional, teacher and district leader shaped her view that schools matter to students’ futures.

A second board member, introduced during the hearing, described a long career in education and said the State Board’s work affects nearly California’s “6,000,000 public school students.” Both nominees thanked the board…