Nichelle Henderson

Environment / Energy I will also advance environmental justice by addressing toxic school facilities, extreme heat, air pollution, and climate impacts that disproportionately harm low-income students and students of color. A whole-child approach means meeting students where they are physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially, so every child can thrive. Education I will expand school-based mental health services, strengthen special education and early intervention supports, and build strong partnerships with families, healthcare providers, and community organizations. Our schools must be safe and affirming for every student, including LGBTQ+ youth, who deserve support, dignity, and the freedom to be themselves without discrimination. Immigration I will fight to keep ICE out of our schools so immigrant students and families can learn without fear, protect access to age-appropriate and medically accurate reproductive health information and support, and ensure students can make decisions about their own bodies and futures. Education California can’t keep asking teachers to do more with less, especially as the world’s fourth-largest economy. I’ll fight for stable funding and fully staffed campuses because we can’t wait for class sizes to go down and for students to get the support they deserve. Education Every student should graduate with real options. I’ll expand dual enrollment, career technical education, and partnerships with labor and industry so students can move confidently into college, careers, or both. Education Our schools must center learning, not preparing for an annual assessment. As SPI, I will push to reform standardized testing, protect instructional time, and effectively incorporate STEAM into daily curriculum. The goal will be to enhance instruction to effect long-term learning. We must move away from summative scoring to progress monitoring that will identify gaps and guide the implementation of appropriate and timely instructional supports. Education Educators deserve the freedom to teach honestly and professionally without fear of political retaliation. I’ll defend academic freedom, protect educator autonomy, and oppose censorship that harms students’ learning. Education Early learning sets the foundation for everything that comes next. I’ll champion universal pre-K, childcare support for families, and reading readiness programs that help every child start strong. Education Public dollars should serve public goods. I believe in responsible decision-making and strong accountability so all publicly funded schools can serve students well without destabilizing local communities.