Essayli said he’s now bringing it “to every school district up and down this state” and predicted that many more would pass it in the weeks and months to come.
In a state where Republicans have almost no political power at the Capitol — they haven’t won a statewide office since 2006 and hold fewer than a quarter of the seats in the Legislature —Parents who first mobilized during the COVID-19 pandemic to push for reopening schools and to fight vaccine and mask mandates are pivoting to clashes over race and gender issues in education.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom clapped back Monday afternoon during a visit to Miwok Village Elementary School in the Sacramento suburb of Elk Grove, refuting conservative allegations that state policies disrespect parents’ rights. Newsom pointed to billions of dollars he’s allocated in state budgets during his time in office to increase access to free school meals, boost teachers’ professional development and expand mental health services. He contrasted those initiatives with moves in Republican-controlled states such as Florida to ban LGBTQ+-themed books and institute other school policies promoted by conservatives.