Superintendent of Public Instruction — Richard Barrera vs. Sonja Shaw

November 3, 2026 California ballot. AI-generated analysis. Your sample ballot and official voter guide are the official documents; the links below let you check each claim. This page explains what is on the ballot; it is not legal advice.

Voting Clarity's research is done by Claude, an AI made by Anthropic. Anthropic gave no money to either candidate in this race [1].

Current as of October 16, 2026 · voting-clarity.org

At a glance

Same facts for each candidate, in the order of the Secretary of State's certified list. The order on your own ballot depends on your Assembly district; check your sample ballot.

Richard Barrera

• Name on the ballot under his name: "State Superintendent Advisor." [2]

• Current office, in his words: member and president of the San Diego Unified School Board, elected in 2008. [3][4]

• Schooling, in his words: University of California, San Diego; master's degree from Harvard. [3][4]

• Money raised, January 1 to September 19, 2026: $550,085. [5]

• Outside groups spending for him: $5,649,288. Outside groups spending against him: None found. [6]

• Share of votes cast in the June 2, 2026 primary: 20.3 percent. [7]

Sonja Shaw

• Name on the ballot under her name: "School District President." [2]

• Current office, in her words: president of the Chino Valley Unified School Board, elected president in 2022. [3][8]

• Schooling: None found.

• Money raised, January 1 to September 19, 2026: $353,941. [9]

• Outside groups spending for her: $20,000. Outside groups spending against her: $250,000. [10]

• Share of votes cast in the June 2, 2026 primary: 22.6 percent. [7]

More detail: see "Key Questions Answered" below.

Your Vote:

Vote for one. This is a nonpartisan office, so the ballot does not show a party next to the names. [3] The candidate with more of the votes cast statewide wins. [11]

Summary

The Superintendent of Public Instruction is chosen by the voters of California at each election for governor. [12] Under the law in effect until December 31, 2026, the person leads the State Department of Education, acts as the top staff officer of the State Board of Education, and sits on the board that runs the University of California. [12][13][14] A law signed July 10, 2026 (Assembly Bill 181) gives the Department of Education's executive and administrative functions to an Education Commissioner appointed by the Governor. It takes effect January 1, 2027, and the larger State Board of Education it creates starts January 15, 2027; see "What the office does." [15][16][17] Two candidates are on the November ballot. They received the two highest vote totals among ten candidates in the June 2 primary. [7] This page compares what each candidate has done that relates to those duties, using official records and the candidates' own words. It does not say whether anyone is qualified. The choice is the reader's.

More detail: see the sections below.

What the office does and who may hold it

Who may hold it

• A person is eligible for an elected civil office if the person is 18 years old and a citizen of California at the time of the election. [18]

• No one may serve more than two terms as Superintendent. [12]

• The person takes office on the first Monday after January 1 following the election for governor. [12]

• The sections of the Constitution and the Education Code read for this page set no required degree, teaching credential, or years of experience for the office. [12][13][14]

What the office does (law in effect until December 31, 2026, quoted or closely paraphrased)

• "Superintend the schools of this state." [14]

• Carries out the policies the State Board of Education decides, and directs the work of the board's appointees and employees under the board's rules. [14]

• Serves as secretary and executive officer of the State Board of Education. [13]

• May employ a Deputy Superintendent and staff and set their pay as the law provides. [14]

• Sets rules for contracts with federal agencies for funds, services, and equipment for schools. [14]

• Each year by July 25, estimates the state school money each county will get. [14]

• With the Controller and the Director of Finance, develops the budget standards that local school agencies use. [14]

• Is a voting (ex officio) member of the Board of Regents of the University of California. [12]

• Nominates one Deputy and three Associate Superintendents, whom the State Board of Education appoints. [12]

• If the office becomes vacant, the Governor appoints a replacement. [14]

Change made by Assembly Bill 181 (Chapter 66, Statutes of 2026)

• The Governor signed the bill on July 10, 2026. [15][16] The Senate passed it 21 to 4, with 15 not voting, and the Assembly agreed to the Senate's changes 52 to 5, with 22 not voting, both on June 29, 2026. [19]

• When it takes effect: January 1, 2027. The bill has no urgency clause, no clause making it take effect right away, and no appropriation. Under the Constitution, such a law takes effect on the January 1 that follows a 90-day period after it is enacted. [16][17]

• Starting January 1, 2027, "all executive and administrative functions" of the State Department of Education are vested in an Education Commissioner, who also becomes the executive officer of the State Board of Education. The Governor appoints the Commissioner, the Senate confirms, and the Commissioner serves at the Governor's pleasure and is directly responsible to the State Board and the Governor for the department's operations. [16]

• Duties in the list above that move to the Commissioner: "superintend the schools of this state"; carry out the State Board's policies and direct its appointees and employees; set the rules for contracts with federal agencies; make the July 25 estimate of state school money; and, starting January 1, 2027, develop the local budget standards with the Controller and the Director of Finance. The section that makes the Superintendent secretary and executive officer of the State Board is repealed. [16]

• The bill also gives the Superintendent's duties under more than 500 other listed code sections to the Commissioner or to the department. Actions the Superintendent took under those sections before January 1, 2027 are treated as taken by the Commissioner or the department. [16]

• The bill says two duties that the Constitution's tax and school-funding sections give the Superintendent (Article XIII, section 36 and Article XVI, section 8.5, as the bill describes them; those sections were not read for this page) will instead be done by the department and by the Commissioner. [16]

• The bill sets up an Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. It is made up of the Superintendent; the Deputy and three Associate Superintendents appointed by the State Board under Article IX, section 2.1 of the Constitution; one more deputy and one employee the Superintendent selects; and clerical and expert assistants under the Superintendent's control. The Superintendent may transfer up to five department employees to the Office, sets the pay of its staff as the law provides, and assigns the duties of the Deputy and Associate Superintendents. [16]

• State Board of Education: 11 members until January 15, 2027. Starting January 15, 2027, 13 members: nine appointed by the Governor with the consent of two-thirds of the Senate, the student member, the Superintendent, one member appointed by the President pro Tempore of the Senate, and one appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. One appointed seat whose term ends January 15, 2027, chosen by the Governor, becomes the Superintendent's seat. [16]

• Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges: the Superintendent becomes a voting member, making 19 voting members. The bill sets no separate date for this change, so it starts January 1, 2027. [16][17]

• Staff: the Governor's power to appoint deputies exempt from civil service to the State Board's executive director, and on the Superintendent's recommendation to the department, ends January 1, 2027; those deputies move to the department under the Commissioner. Starting January 1, 2027, the Governor may appoint up to 16 such deputies to the Commissioner. [16]

• The Commissioner must send the Governor and the Legislature an interim report by June 30, 2027 and a final report by October 1, 2027 with recommendations for a second phase, including the duties of the Office of the Superintendent. [16]

What the Constitution keeps with the elected office (Article IX, sections 2, 2.1, and 7 read in full; section 9, subdivisions (a) and (b) read) [12]

• Section 2: the voters elect the Superintendent at each election for governor; the term starts the first Monday after January 1 following that election; no one may serve more than two terms.

• Section 2.1: the State Board of Education, on the Superintendent's nomination, appoints one Deputy and three Associate Superintendents, who are exempt from civil service and serve four-year terms.

• Section 7: the Legislature provides for the appointment or election of the State Board of Education. The section names no role for the Superintendent.

• Section 9(a): the Superintendent is one of seven ex officio members of the Regents of the University of California.

• None of these sections says who runs the State Department of Education.

• Whether the law fits the Constitution's sections on this office is an open legal question.

Their experience that relates to those duties, side by side

Self-reported items come from each candidate's own statement or website and are labeled so. Official records are cited separately.

More detail: records of what each board did are in the next section.

Their records, side by side

The decisions on the race's top issues, as named by two major voter guides: EdSource's [21] and CalMatters' [22]. Each row is a decision, or says that no record was found. Votes come from each board's official minutes. San Diego Unified minutes name only members who voted no or were absent; Chino Valley Unified minutes name who voted no, who was absent, and in closed session who voted yes.

Compare each stated goal with the official result.

Method: top issues were taken from two major voter guides, EdSource's (September 28, 2026) [21] and CalMatters' (September 29, 2026) [22]. Chosen, with the guide or guides that named each: school funding (EdSource and CalMatters); reading, writing, and math, or "academic basics" (EdSource and CalMatters); transgender students, including girls' sports and parent notification (EdSource and CalMatters); teachers (EdSource and CalMatters). Early childhood education was also named by both guides and was not searched. School consolidation (EdSource only) and the other EdSource topics were not checked as board votes. The same topics were checked for both boards. Date ranges searched: San Diego Unified, regular-meeting minutes from December 3, 2024 (the first date posted online) to July 14, 2026, reading every item title and vote, skipping the May 27, 2025 meeting (the posted file is the wrong minutes) and meetings after July 14, 2026; Chino Valley Unified, agendas and minutes from July 2022 to June 2026 searched by keyword in every posted minutes file whose text could be read by computer (see "Could not be reviewed"), plus the two Policy 5020.1 minutes. "No role found." means no comparable item turned up in those ranges.

Not included: ethnic studies and school bonds were not checked. The consent calendars of both boards were not read item by item.

Foreign-influence check

Same check for every candidate and every foreign government. Official records only. Meetings or contacts alone are not reported.

Key Questions Answered

Same questions, in the same order, for each candidate, with the candidates in the order of the certified list.

0. Ballot designation and ballot order

• Barrera: "State Superintendent Advisor." [2][39]

• Shaw: "School District President." [2][39]

• Order of names: names rotate by Assembly District (Elections Code § 13111). For a statewide office, the Secretary of State draws a randomized alphabet that sets the order of names for Assembly District 1. For each later Assembly district, the name that was first moves to last and the other names stay in the same order. So the order of the two names on your ballot depends on your Assembly district. Check your sample ballot. [40]

• The same two designations appear on the Secretary of State's certified list for the June 2 primary. [39] The Official Voter Information Guide lists the candidates in the same order and shows no designations. The Secretary of State says the order of statements in the guide came from a randomized drawing. [3][41]

1. Background

• Barrera (self-reported): San Diego native; public school through college; University of California, San Diego; master's in public policy, Harvard; organized workers before running for the San Diego Unified School Board in 2008. [3][4] His July 1, 2026 campaign release also calls him Senior Policy Advisor to State Superintendent Tony Thurmond. [20]

• Shaw (self-reported): Chino native; mother of two; elected Chino Valley Unified School Board president in 2022. [3][8]

2. Record in office (official records)

• Barrera: San Diego Unified votes on budgets (June 24, 2025; June 23, 2026) and on a teacher-union agreement (September 30, 2025); see "Their records, side by side." [25][23][31] Official action on Assembly Bill 181: None found.

• Shaw: Chino Valley Unified votes on the 2026-27 budget (June 18, 2026), on Board Policy 5020.1 (July 20, 2023; March 7, 2024), on Title IX items (April 17 and June 5, 2025), and on teacher agreements (January 16 and May 15, 2025; April 16, 2026); see "Their records, side by side." [24][29][30][27][28][33][34][35] Official action on Assembly Bill 181: None found. The Chino board did vote on other state bills, for example Resolution 2024/2025-64, Supporting Senate Bill 19, on April 17, 2025 (carried 5-0). [27]

3. Stated priorities (self-reported)

• Barrera, from his campaign website: housing for educators; secure long-term school funding; free early childhood education for every three-year-old; a teacher pipeline with paid apprenticeships and tuition coverage; protecting LGBTQ+ students, dual-language programs, and career pathways; school nurses, counselors, and mental health services; college-prep courses in every high school. [4][42]

• Shaw, from her candidate statement: restore high standards in reading, writing, and math; protect Title IX and fairness and safety for girls; cut wasteful bureaucracy; demand fiscal transparency. [3] Her website lists three issues: Protect Our Daughters, Fix Our Schools, Put Families First. [8]

4. Positions on the main issues (each in the candidate's own words)

Issues chosen: topics both candidates' own voter guide statements address. [3]

• Reading, writing, and math. Barrera: says San Diego Unified reached "First in Reading and Math among the nation's largest urban districts." [3] Shaw: "restore high academic standards in reading, writing, and math." [3]

• School funding. Barrera: "leading a statewide effort to increase education funding." [42] Shaw: "demand fiscal transparency to ensure money reaches classrooms." [3]

• Transgender students and girls' sports. Barrera: "protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ students." [42] Shaw: "protect Title IX, ensuring fairness and safety for girls." [3]

• Teachers. Barrera: "expanding paid apprenticeships so future teachers can earn while they learn." [42] Shaw: "Recruiting and retaining top educators." [8]

• Parent notification about a student's gender identity. Barrera: No stated position found. Shaw: "Parents must have a say." [8]

• Assembly Bill 181, the 2026 law that changes this office (added because it changes the job; not from the voter guide). Barrera, as quoted by EdSource on October 6, 2026: "I want to work with the commissioner to figure out the structure that's necessary." [43] His own July 1, 2026 campaign release called the process that led to the bill "flawed" and asked state leaders to include classroom educators in carrying it out; it states neither support nor opposition. [20] Shaw, as quoted by EdSource on July 20, 2026: called the law an unconstitutional "sweeping power grab." [44]

5. Money (Cal-Access, as of October 19, 2026: filed reports through September 19, 2026; late reports through October 16, 2026)

• Barrera: $550,085 raised and $414,294 spent, January 1 to September 19, 2026; $198,874 cash on hand. [5] Largest itemized contributors: United Domestic Workers of America Action Fund $39,200; California Teachers Association/Association for Better Citizenship $39,200; many union and education-employee committees at $19,600. [45]

• Shaw: $353,941 raised and $332,305 spent in the same period; $190,010 cash on hand. [9] Largest itemized contributors: four individuals at $19,600 each (David Cates, Jon Harmon, Robert Wiley, Sherry Reynoso); Yuba County Republican Party $12,340.50. [46]

• Independent spending for Barrera (late-report listing): $6,029,101, of which the California Teachers Association Independent Expenditure Committee reported $5,954,080; other reporters include Families & Teachers United (sponsored by California Charter Schools Association Advocates) $39,656 and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California Votes PAC $13,535. Against Barrera: None found. [6]

• Independent spending for Shaw (late-report listing): $326,400. Cal-Access lists as support a $275,037 entry from the California Teachers Association Independent Expenditure Committee for digital ads and polling (October 16, 2026); Right Path California Issues PAC, sponsored by Taxpayer and Business Advocates, $31,363 (October 16, 2026); and Reform Local Government PAC $20,000. Against Shaw: California Teachers Association Independent Expenditure Committee $250,000 (October 9, 2026). [10]

• Public funds or member communications: None found. (Both candidates' pages checked.)

6. Endorsements (self-reported)

• Barrera (candidate statement): California Teachers Association, California Federation of Teachers, United Administrators of Southern California, California School Employees Association, Planned Parenthood, California Professional Firefighters, School Police Officers, California Democratic Party. [3]

• Shaw (campaign website): 29 organizations, 65 elected officials, 20 "leading voices," 87 school board members; the page gives counts. [8]

7. Official-record items naming the candidate (ethics, court judgments, audits)

• Barrera: None found that an official record ties to the candidate. [47]

• Shaw: None found that an official record ties to the candidate. [47]

8. Criminal charges

• Barrera: None found. [38][48]

• Shaw: None found. [38][48]

9. Primary result and past races

• June 2, 2026 primary, ten candidates: Shaw 1,737,735 votes (22.6%); Barrera 1,558,298 (20.3%). [7]

• Past races: Barrera elected to the San Diego Unified School Board in 2008 (self-reported) [4]; Shaw elected Chino Valley Unified board president 2022 (self-reported) [8]. Prior statewide races: None found.

10. Accusations between candidates

• None found with an official record.

Sources

Numbered in order of first appearance; every number above points to one source below.

1. Cal-Access, Anthropic PBC (filer 1491817), contributions made, read as of October 16, 2026. https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1491817

2. California Secretary of State, "Official Certified List of Candidates, November 3, 2026 General Election," dated August 27, 2026, page 2 of 41. https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/statewide-elections/2026-general/cert-list-candidates.pdf

3. California Secretary of State, Official Voter Information Guide, "Superintendent of Public Instruction Candidate Statements." https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/candidates/superintendent-candidate-statements.htm

4. Barrera for Superintendent, "Why I am Running." https://www.barreraforedu.com/about-richard

5. Cal-Access, Richard Barrera candidate page (committee 1478161, report of 09/24/2026). https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Candidates/Detail.aspx?id=1478162

6. Cal-Access, "Late Independent Expenditures Affecting This Candidate," Barrera, read October 19, 2026. https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Candidates/Detail.aspx?id=1478162&view=lateexpn

7. California Secretary of State, Primary Election Statement of Vote, June 2, 2026, "Superintendent of Public Instruction by County," pages 113 to 118 (State Totals on pages 115 and 118; read October 16, 2026). https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2026-primary/sov/113-spi.pdf

8. Shaw for Superintendent, home page. https://www.shawforca.com/

9. Cal-Access, Sonja Shaw candidate page (committee 1479719, report of 09/24/2026). https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Candidates/Detail.aspx?id=1479720

10. Cal-Access, "Late Independent Expenditures Affecting This Candidate," Shaw, read October 19, 2026. https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Candidates/Detail.aspx?id=1479720&view=lateexpn

11. California Elections Code section 15452. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=ELEC&sectionNum=15452.

12. California Constitution, Article IX, sections 2, 2.1, and 7 (each read in full) and section 9, subdivisions (a) and (b), read October 16, 2026. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&sectionNum=SEC.%202.&article=IX , https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&sectionNum=SEC.%202.1.&article=IX , https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&sectionNum=SEC.%207.&article=IX , and https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&sectionNum=SEC.%209.&article=IX

13. California Education Code, Division 2, Part 20, Chapter 1, Article 1 (sections 33000 to 33011). https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=EDC&division=2.&title=2.&part=20.&chapter=1.&article=1.

14. California Education Code, Division 2, Part 20, Chapter 2 (sections 33100 to 33132 read). https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=EDC&division=2.&title=2.&part=20.&chapter=2.

15. California Legislature, Assembly Bill 181 (2025-26), Bill Status, read October 16, 2026 (Chaptered, Chapter 66, Statutes of 2026, approved July 10, 2026). https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB181

16. California Legislature, Assembly Bill 181 (2025-26), chaptered text (Chapter 66, Statutes of 2026; approved by the Governor and filed with the Secretary of State July 10, 2026) and Legislative Counsel's Digest, read October 16, 2026. Sections relied on: 1, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 24, 27 to 30, 37, 42, 47, 61 to 65, 89, and 96; the Digest Key reads "Vote: majority Appropriation: no." https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB181

17. California Constitution, Article IV, section 8, subdivision (c) (when statutes take effect), read October 16, 2026. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&sectionNum=SEC.%208.&article=IV

18. California Government Code section 1020. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=1020.

19. California Legislature, Assembly Bill 181 (2025-26), Votes, read October 16, 2026 (Senate Floor 21-4 and Assembly Floor concurrence 52-5, both June 29, 2026). https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billVotesClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB181

20. Barrera for Superintendent, news release "Barrera Demands a Seat at the Table for Educators as the Re-Structuring of the Office of State Superintendent Is Implemented," July 1, 2026. https://www.barreraforedu.com/newsreleases/barrera-demands-a-seat-at-the-table-for-educators-as-the-re-structuring-of-the-office-of-state-superintendent-is-implemented

21. Yuxuan Xie and John Fensterwald, EdSource, "See where California state superintendent candidates stand on major education issues," September 28, 2026 (seven questions and both candidates' answers read in full from the page's interactive, https://edsource.org/dataviz/superintendent_questionnaire9_28/reportcard.html: Changes in superintendent's role; Three priorities; School consolidation; School funding; Student achievement; Trump v. California; Connecting the dots). https://edsource.org/2026/shaw-barrera-education-policy-superintendent-candidates/766666

22. CalMatters, "Who is running for superintendent in California's 2026 election?" (Superintendent of Public Instruction, 2026 California voter guide; CalMatters Staff; published September 29, 2026, last modified October 9, 2026), read in full October 16, 2026. https://calmatters.org/california-voter-guide-2026/superintendent-of-public-instruction/

23. San Diego Unified School District, Board of Education regular meeting minutes, June 23, 2026 (roll call; Item H.2), read in Simbli. https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36030418&MID=75274&Tab=Minutes

24. Chino Valley Unified School District, minutes of the regular board meeting of June 18, 2026 (Item II.B.1). https://files.smartsites.parentsquare.com/7144/06-18-26_minutes.pdf

25. San Diego Unified School District, Board of Education regular meeting minutes, June 24, 2025 (roll call; Item H.2, Budget Adoption 2025-26), read in Simbli October 17, 2026. https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36030418&MID=67637&Tab=Minutes

26. Chino Valley Unified School District, agenda for the regular board meeting of June 18, 2026 (Item II.B.1, Adoption of the 2026/2027 Budget). https://files.smartsites.parentsquare.com/7144/06-18-26_agenda.pdf

27. Chino Valley Unified School District, minutes of the regular board meeting of April 17, 2025 (Items II.A.2, II.A.3, II.A.4; roll call), read October 17, 2026. https://files.smartsites.parentsquare.com/7144/04-17-25_minutes.pdf

28. Chino Valley Unified School District, minutes of the regular board meeting of June 5, 2025 (Item II.Aa.1, Resolution 2024/2025-77, Title IX Month; roll call), read October 17, 2026. https://files.smartsites.parentsquare.com/7144/06-05-25_minutes.pdf

29. Chino Valley Unified School District, minutes of the regular board meeting of July 20, 2023 (Item II.A.1, Board Policy 5020.1; roll call), read October 17, 2026. https://files.smartsites.parentsquare.com/7144/07-20-23_minutes.pdf

30. Chino Valley Unified School District, minutes of the regular board meeting of March 7, 2024 (consent Item III.A.2, Deleted Board Policy 5020.1; Item II.A.1, Policy/AR 5010 Notification; roll call); a scanned file, read page by page in the built-in browser October 17, 2026. https://files.smartsites.parentsquare.com/7144/03-07-24_minutes.pdf

31. San Diego Unified School District, Board of Education regular meeting minutes, September 30, 2025 (roll call; Item F.2, Ratification of Memorandum of Understanding with San Diego Education Association; motion on Items F.1 to F.3), read in Simbli October 17, 2026. https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36030418&MID=67694&Tab=Minutes

32. California Education Code section 35012, subdivision (d), paragraphs (4) and (10) (student board members' preferential votes), read October 17, 2026. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC&sectionNum=35012.

33. Chino Valley Unified School District, minutes of the regular board meeting of January 16, 2025 (Item II.B.1, tentative agreement with the Associated Chino Teachers; roll call), read October 17, 2026. https://files.smartsites.parentsquare.com/7144/01-16-25_minutes.pdf

34. Chino Valley Unified School District, minutes of the regular board meeting of May 15, 2025 (Item II.C.1, tentative agreement with the Associated Chino Teachers (A.C.T.); roll call), read October 17, 2026. https://files.smartsites.parentsquare.com/7144/05-15-25_minutes.pdf

35. Chino Valley Unified School District, minutes of the regular board meeting of April 16, 2026 (Item II.A.1, tentative agreement with A.C.T., reopener effective July 1, 2026; roll call), read October 17, 2026. https://files.smartsites.parentsquare.com/7144/04-16-26_minutes.pdf

36. California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), Form 700 filer search, searched October 16, 2026 for "Richard Barrera" and for "Sonja Shaw" (Gifts and Travel, value from $0). https://form700search.fppc.ca.gov

37. U.S. Department of Justice, Foreign Agents Registration Act eFile public search, searched October 16, 2026 for both names. https://efile.fara.gov

38. U.S. Department of Justice, site search of justice.gov for "Sonja Shaw" and for "Richard Barrera" (quoted names), run October 16, 2026 (no results). https://search.justice.gov/search?affiliate=justice&query=%22Sonja+Shaw%22 and https://search.justice.gov/search?affiliate=justice&query=%22Richard+Barrera%22

39. California Secretary of State, Official Certified List of Candidates for the June 2, 2026 statewide direct primary, dated March 26, 2026, page 7 of 53. https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/statewide-elections/2026-primary/cert-list-candidates.pdf

40. California Elections Code section 13111, subdivision (c), read October 16, 2026. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=ELEC&sectionNum=13111.

41. California Secretary of State, Official Voter Information Guide, November 3, 2026 General Election, complete guide, page 95 (Superintendent of Public Instruction). https://vig.cdn.sos.ca.gov/2026/general/pdf/complete-vig.pdf

42. Barrera for Superintendent, "Priorities." https://www.barreraforedu.com/priorities

43. John Fensterwald and Emma Gallegos, EdSource, "First priority for California's next state superintendent: Negotiate a job description," October 6, 2026 (Barrera's words as quoted by EdSource). https://edsource.org/2026/california-state-superintendent-role-changes/767490

44. John Fensterwald, EdSource, "Could a lawsuit stop Gov. Newsom and lawmakers from stripping the state superintendent's power? Probably not," July 20, 2026 (Shaw's words as quoted by EdSource; her own posts were not reachable). https://edsource.org/2026/california-education-superintendent-power/762366

45. Cal-Access, Barrera committee, contributions received. https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1478161&view=received&page=*

46. Cal-Access, Shaw committee, contributions received. https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1479719&view=received&page=*

47. California Fair Political Practices Commission, enforcement search for "Richard Barrera" and for "Sonja Shaw" (quoted names), run October 16, 2026. https://www.fppc.ca.gov/search/

48. California Attorney General, site search for "Richard Barrera" and for "Sonja Shaw," run October 16, 2026. https://oag.ca.gov/search-results/

Could not be reviewed: San Diego Unified board records before December 3, 2024 (San Diego Unified posts board minutes online only from that date), so any Barrera vote before then could not be checked; the May 27, 2025 minutes (the posted file is the January 14, 2025 minutes), the July 14, 2026 special meeting, and meetings after July 14, 2026 (the Simbli minutes are PDFs with no searchable text and were read page by page); San Diego Unified agendas and the district board-actions page (it showed a human-verification check that was not bypassed); Chino Valley Unified minutes that are scanned images or not searchable (including meetings in May 2024) and its consent-calendar items; individual roll-call votes (both boards' minutes name only no votes and absences); candidate social media accounts (x.com, Instagram, Facebook); growsf.org; the second FPPC search site (sfsearch.fppc.ca.gov); Statements of Economic Interests filed with school districts instead of the state; federal and state court indexes (not searched); the budget documents themselves and the ethnic studies and reading programs of both districts; Shaw's own posts on Assembly Bill 181 (quoted from EdSource only); Article XIII, section 36 and Article XVI, section 8.5 of the Constitution (not read; described only as the bill describes them); court filings on Assembly Bill 181 (court indexes not searched); voter guides other than EdSource's and CalMatters' for this race (both of those were read in full); Chino Valley Unified minutes that are scanned images with no readable text, so they were not keyword-searched (March 7, 2024, which was read page by page instead; March 21, April 18, May 2, May 16, June 6, June 20, and July 18, 2024; and January 9, 2025); five short Chino minutes files (October 3 and November 7, 2024; February 6, July 1, and September 3, 2025) whose text was too short to search; Chino meetings held on days other than Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, which were not tried; Chino resolution texts and agreement texts (only the minutes were read); the San Diego Unified September 30, 2025 minutes (drawn as vector shapes with no text layer, so the pages were redrawn in the browser and read from the picture; the item, motion, and roll call were read this way).