California can lead on kids only if we truly prioritize them

For generations, from aspiring and established leaders across both political parties, Californians have heard “California leads the way” proclaimed with pride and passion. The phrase has been a symbol of our state’s identity – a breeding ground for big ideas and where the nation often catches a glimpse of its political future. And at some important moments over the years, those trend-setting, forward-thinking policies have centered on kids: The Master Plan for Higher Education, the establishment of First 5, health insurance for all children. Just this year California also passed a first-of-its-kind law protecting kids’ safety and mental health online. When we choose to focus on and prioritize kids, we’ve shown an exceptional ability to lead.  

But these moments of leadership on kids unfortunately don’t tell California’s full story. The reality is, now and for the last several decades, our state ranks closer to the bottom of the nation than the top on kids’ outcomes, from education to poverty to access to mental health services. The Annie E. Casey Foundation ranks us 33rd among all states in child well-being. “California leads the way” simply doesn’t apply to how we prioritize our children. For a state that prides itself on implementing pioneering policies that set an example for the rest of the country to follow, how we stack up on supporting our children is not just eye-opening – it’s indefensible.  

Every two years Children Now releases its California Children’s Report Card, grading state leaders on their performance supporting kids across issues affecting all aspects of their lives. The last Report Card showcased alarmingly poor results across many of these areas. California had the highest child poverty rate in the country. We ranked dead last in parents’ ability to get their kids mental health care and second to last in the percentage of kids receiving a health checkup. We ranked near the bottom in math achievement as well as 49th in teacher-to-student ratios in our public schools. And when the 2026 Report Card is released this upcoming January, it will show that despite some important targeted progress over the last two years, overall we have not taken sufficient steps to improve this poor performance. 

What is hopeful, while being immensely frustrating given its rarity, is that when California’s leaders have made kids their top priority, we’ve seen some important progress. A major investment in the child care workforce through rate reform. The guarantee of universal preschool by adding a grade for all 4-year-olds. Earlier this year Governor Newsom announced a significant boost to paid family leave benefits, which quickly led to a huge increase in parents getting to bond with their new child away from work. And when the Governor signed the Digital Age Assurance Act into law this October, we took a critical step toward reducing online harm to kids while protecting their mental health, setting a great example for the rest of the country. 

These are all impactful victories for our kids that deserve to be celebrated. But they only came to be when kids were truly prioritized and fought for, which happens far less often than it needs to be and has led to California’s dismal overall standing on supporting our children. 

The success of California holds a unique and powerful place in serving as an example for the rest of the country. It has earned that role from consistently leading on a wide array of issues across the political spectrum. But when it comes to our kids, we simply need to do more. Much more. Over the past 7 years, Governor Newsom has shown that California has the ability to “lead the way” on kids when we truly prioritize them. With one final state budget before ending his gubernatorial tenure, there is an incredible opportunity to build off our recent successes, be the Pro-Kid governor that proudly and undeniably prioritizes our children, and show that California can truly be a national leader on kids. Governor, we ask that you seize it.