Letters: Betty Yee is our best choice to run the state

"Six men thought the job description includes mansplaining, not being the best-prepared steward of a $300 billion budget. The men on stage were eager to interrupt, lecture and score points. Meanwhile, only one candidate has already managed the state's books, uncovered waste and abuse, and protected pensions for millions of Californians: former Controller Betty Yee. She didn't mug for the cameras. She did what women leaders so often do: Show up prepared, focus on solutions and let the work speak for itself."

"Some schools are beating the odds with the populations they serve. Some districts are shrinking achievement gaps. The data is out there. Curriculum and teaching does matter. In the case of literacy, adopting evidence-based approaches can lead to gains even for students facing multiple challenges in the Central Valley. For math, centering practice around examining student data, research-based teaching, and early intervention has boosted performance in districts with high levels of poverty and multilingual learners."

California needs competent, experienced leadership capable of fixing the budget, steadying the economy, and making government work rather than theatrical debating. Betty Yee is presented as a proven fiscal steward who uncovered waste, protected pensions, and is prepared to govern from Day One. California public schools face deep societal challenges, but some districts are improving through targeted practices. Literacy gains arise from evidence-based approaches even in high-need areas, while math improves when instruction centers on student data, research-backed methods, and early intervention. The systemic gap is scaling those effective practices statewide to turn scores around.

Read at The Mercury News