Frank Lara — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Candidate Questionnaire
Questionnaire by the GrowSF Endorsement Team, responses by Candidate
GrowSF sent a questionnaire to Frank Lara. The candidate did not respond.
Read more about our endorsement process
GrowSF’s endorsement for State Superintendent of Public Instruction:
Who else is running in this contest?
| Candidate | Questionnaire | |
|---|---|---|
Josh Newman | Read it | |
Al Muratsuchi | No Response | |
Frank Lara | No Response | |
Anthony Rendon | No Response | |
Richard Barrera | Read it | |
Sonja Shaw | No Response |
- Office: State Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Election Date: June 2, 2026
- Candidate: Frank Lara
- Due Date: April 8, 2026
Thank you for seeking GrowSF's endorsement for the June 2, 2026 primary election! GrowSF believes in a growing, vibrant, healthy, safe, and prosperous city via common sense solutions and effective government.
As a candidate for state office, your day-to-day responsibilities in office will affect not just San Francisco, but California as a whole. As a representative of the people of California and of San Francisco, the policies you bring to Sacramento should reflect the best of what we have to offer.
The GrowSF endorsement committee will review all completed questionnaires and seek consensus on which candidates best align with our vision for San Francisco and have the expertise to enact meaningful policy changes.
We ask that you please complete this questionnaire by April 8, 2026 so we have enough time to adequately review and discuss your answers.
Your Policy Goals
We'd like to get some details about your high-level goals and how you intend to use your elected office to achieve them.
What policies do you hope to change or preserve by running for State Superintendent of Public Instruction? Please be specific, and list them in order of priority.
Candidate did not answer.
Why those policies?
Candidate did not answer.
Explain why your #1 goal is your #1 goal.
Candidate did not answer.
How will you build the coalition and political capital to enact your #1 goal? What obstacles will you face, and how will you overcome them? Will the power of the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction be enough to achieve this goal?
Candidate did not answer.
Will the power of the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction be enough to achieve the other goals?
Candidate did not answer.
What is an "out there" change that you would make to state/local government policy, if you could? For the purpose of this question, you are not constrained to the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Candidate did not answer.
Your Leadership
We'd like to learn more about your leadership style and plan to execute effectively once you assume office.
Why are you running for State Superintendent of Public Instruction?
Candidate did not answer.
In your own words, what are the core constitutional and statutory responsibilities of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction?
Candidate did not answer.
What makes you uniquely qualified for this position?
Candidate did not answer.
What three measurable outcomes should Californians use to evaluate your success after your first two years in office?
Candidate did not answer.
The Issues
Next, we will cover the issues that voters tell us they care about. We hope to gain a better understanding of your policy positions, and we hope that you use this opportunity to communicate with voters.
What specific actions will you take through the Department of Education's oversight and technical-assistance powers to accelerate learning recovery statewide? How will you measure whether those supports are improving outcomes across districts?
Candidate did not answer.
Many have identified Mississippi as an example for meaningful and durable reforms that have boosted student achievement across racial, economic, and geographical lines. What is your understanding of their reforms and how will you bring those reforms to bear on California to improve student achievement?
Candidate did not answer.
Enrollment declines and expiring federal funds are straining district budgets. How will you use the Department's fiscal oversight and data systems to help districts plan for enrollment loss and financial stability?
Candidate did not answer.
Some say California schools struggle due to lack of money, others highlight widening inequality in household income, and others point out many districts are doing well in spite of these issues. According to the literature, what are the primary determinants of a successful school and how can you ensure each school has what it needs to succeed?
Candidate did not answer.
California faces persistent teacher shortages in key subjects. What partnerships or incentives would you champion — within the Department's existing authority — to strengthen the educator pipeline, especially in high-need regions?
Candidate did not answer.
The State Superintendent of Public Instruction directly oversees the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) and can modernize how districts report and use data. What is your top data-system modernization priority, and what measurable performance goals would you set for CALPADS or related systems during your term?
Candidate did not answer.
How will you strengthen coordination between schools, counties, and state agencies to expand student mental-health support? What metric would you track to evaluate whether access to services is improving?
Candidate did not answer.
Should the state encourage, and provide funding for, school districts in high-cost areas to build teacher housing?
Candidate did not answer.
Should teacher housing be exempt from CEQA, Discretionary Review, and zoning?
Candidate did not answer.
As a voting member of the State Board of Education, how should the state's Boards of Education be reformed to ensure accountability and better performance?
Candidate did not answer.
Personal
Tell us a bit about yourself!
How long have you lived in California? What brought you here and what keeps you here?
Candidate did not answer.
What do you love most about California and/or your hometown?
Candidate did not answer.
What do you dislike the most about California and/or your hometown?
Candidate did not answer.
Tell us about your current involvement in the community (e.g., volunteer groups, neighborhood associations, civic and professional organizations, etc.)
Candidate did not answer.
Thank you
Thank you for giving us your time and answering our questionnaire. We look forward to reading your answers and considering your candidacy!
If you see any errors on this page, please let us know at contact@growsf.org.