Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • State Government
  •  

Tight Race For California School Superintendent

  •  Katie Orr 
Thursday, September 25, 2014 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Katie Orr, Capital Public Radio

State Superintendent Candidate Marshall Tuck talked to the Sacramento Press Club on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014.

Katie Orr, Capital Public Radio

The Superintendent of Public Instruction oversees the California Department of Education. The incumbent Tom Torlakson, is being challenged by fellow Democrat Marshal Tuck. Tuck ran a charter-school company in Los Angeles and worked with the city's public schools. He says if elected, he’d overhaul the state’s education code.

“I believe without giving principals and teachers and local communities to be really creative and do what they believe is best for their kids, we’ll never see the changes and the pace of innovation and that kid-first focus that we must have to get from 2.5 million kids that can’t read or write at grade-level to 200,000, 100,000, zero,” Tuck told the Sacramento Press Club today.

Additionally, Tuck says public schools need more flexibility over which teachers they hire or fire. He says if he wins in November he would immediately withdraw the state superintendent's appeal of a court decision that struck down teacher tenure laws and other job protections.

“People don’t want to go work in an industry or work in education when they can be great at their jobs and be fired in five years because they’re more junior to someone else. The work rules have to change,” he says.

However, Torlakson says teachers currently get a fair hearing if their jobs are on the line. And he says he worked with legislators this year to pass a law that makes it easier to fire some teachers. And Torlakson says Tuck hasn’t been paying attention to reforms that are already in place.

“My opponent claims that he’s going to institute best-practices, career education, STEM education. These are all really good ideas which we have already started working on years ago,” he says. “And during my term we have created a renaissance in STEM education. We have invested heavily. I went to the legislature and got $500 million for careers pathways.”

Despite his incumbent status, Torlakson is in a tight race. A Field Poll released earlier this month showed him trailing Tuck, 28 to 31 percent. However, 41 percent of "likely" voters were undecided.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    More about election 2014

  • Election 2014

    Related Stories

  • Superintendent Of Public Instruction Races Goes To Incumbent, Tom Torlakson

    Wednesday, November 5, 2014
    Education reporter for the California Report, Ana Tintocalis, will join us to discuss the results of the Superintendent of Public Instruction race.

 election 2014superintendent of public instruction

Katie Orr

Former Health Care Reporter

Katie Orr reported for Capital Public Radio News through December 2015.  Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More State Government Stories

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Rep. Adam Schiff announces 2024 Senate run, teeing up a high-profile primary

January 26, 2023

Ariana Drehsler / CalMatters

California reparations task force zeroes in on who’d be eligible for compensation

January 30, 2023

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

California announces plan to convert 3 office buildings in downtown Sacramento into housing

January 31, 2023

Most Viewed

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 pandemic has shifted people's finances

California announces plan to convert 3 office buildings in downtown Sacramento into housing

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Sacramento Council approves armored vehicle for police despite opposition to military equipment purchase

California ends plans for kids’ Covid vaccine mandate

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 pandemic has shifted people's finances

California announces plan to convert 3 office buildings in downtown Sacramento into housing

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Sacramento Council approves armored vehicle for police despite opposition to military equipment purchase

California ends plans for kids’ Covid vaccine mandate

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a News Tip
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.