California is experiencing a severe shortage of candidates for school board positions, with an analysis by EdSource revealing that 62% of the state's school board seats will not be contested in the upcoming election. This marks an increase from previous years, even after legislation was passed to allow districts to raise trustee pay for the first time in over four decades.
According to the EdSource analysis of 2,225 school board seats across 52 counties, 1,207 seats have only one candidate running, and 224 seats have no candidates at all. This trend is partly driven by a reluctance among current board members to continue their service.
A survey of 801 school board members in California found that only 49% plan to run for re-election. Nearly a quarter indicated they would likely not run again, with another 27% undecided. Many cited the demanding and increasingly political nature of the role as a significant factor. Approximately half of those surveyed reported that serving on the board had negatively impacted their emotional well-being.
Troy Flint, a spokesperson for the California School Boards Association, stated that the job has become more politicized, making it challenging to focus on the nonpartisan work of supporting students and academic achievement. Board members also cited uncertainty over federal funding, declining enrollment, and immigration enforcement as sources of strain. More than a third reported experiencing attacks on social media, and nearly a fifth indicated facing threats of violence or harassment.
Flint noted that the atmosphere surrounding school boards has become "daunting," discouraging individuals from seeking or remaining in these roles. He attributed part of this shift to the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased parental engagement through remote learning and online board meetings, leading to greater scrutiny. "Serving as a school board member was less of a fishbowl experience than it is now," Flint commented.
Even contested races have become highly charged. In San Diego County, a race for the San Dieguito Union High School District seat gained national attention after one candidate used an AI-generated image of his opponent. In Orange Unified, incumbents face challengers amid ongoing disputes over transgender student policies and book bans. Similarly, in Beverly Hills Unified, where trustee pay was significantly increased, five candidates are competing for two seats, with divisions along ideological lines despite the non-partisan nature of the elections.
Flint expressed concern that highly politicized engagement risks turning schools into "another venue for political conflict," which is detrimental to student outcomes. Board members are also facing pressure from federal investigations. The U.S. Department of Education has opened inquiries into several California school districts regarding ethnic studies surveys and diversity initiatives, including LAUSD's Black Student Achievement Plan and gender identity policies.