As We See It: Aceves For Schools Superintendent

The runoff for state superintendent of public instruction pits a longtime legislator, Democrat Tom Torlakson, against a veteran educator, Larry Aceves, who finished a surprising first in the June primary for the nonpartisan office.

Aceves is a former teacher, principal and superintendent who would bring independence and experience to the job. Torlakson is a former teacher who has long made education his main issue in the Legislature. The downside, however, is that he often does not favor reforms that might go against teacher unions. Most recently, he took the union side and helped torpedo a bill that would have required the rate of layoffs at low performing schools to be the same as other schools in a particular district, which would have given struggling schools a better chance to improve. Not surprisingly, Torlakson has been endorsed by the California Teachers Association.

With all the cries for reform in our schools and the need to challenge the education status quo while raising student performance, Aceves seems to have the realistic vision for school reform, listening skills and administrative experience state schools need. We recommend his election as California superintendent of public instruction.