California controller candidate criticizes stats's $151B education budget over low test scores

August 21, 2026 - 02:00

A California businessman running for state controller is taking aim at the state's massive education budget, calling the latest spending plan a failure in the face of persistently low test scores. Herb Morgan, a candidate for the position, argued that the proposed 151 billion dollar allocation for schools does not translate into better outcomes for students.

Morgan pointed to recent standardized test results, which show that a majority of students in the state are still not meeting grade-level expectations in math and English. He said the continued increase in funding, year after year, has not moved the needle on academic achievement. According to Morgan, the problem is not a lack of money but a lack of accountability and a misallocation of resources.

He criticized the current approach as one that prioritizes administrative growth and new programs over direct classroom instruction. Morgan suggested that the state needs to rethink how it distributes funds, focusing more on evidence-based tutoring and teacher support rather than broad budget increases. He also called for more transparent reporting on how districts spend their money, so that parents and taxpayers can see where the dollars actually go.

The candidate's remarks come as the state legislature debates the final details of the education budget. Supporters of the current spending plan argue that the funding is necessary to address long-standing inequities and to support schools recovering from the pandemic. However, Morgan insists that without measurable progress, the state is simply repeating a cycle of spending without results. He is expected to make education funding a central issue in his campaign.