State Superintendent Thurmond Announces Healthcare Cost Workgroup

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California Department of Education
News Release California Department of Education
News Release Release: #26-22
April 2, 2026 Contact: Communications
E-mail: communications@cde.ca.gov
Phone: 916-319-0818

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces Workgroup to Address Impact of Rising Healthcare Costs on School Districts and Educators

This announcement follows the end of the Twin Rivers Unified School District (TRUSD) teacher strike, reportedly the longest educator strike in California history. Rising healthcare costs were cited as a significant fiscal stressor by both labor and management.

SACRAMENTO—Today, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced the convening of a new TK–12 Education Healthcare Cost Workgroup, in which educators, economists, and policy experts will develop policy solutions to address the impact of rising healthcare costs on California school districts.

“We are all painfully aware of the rising costs of healthcare in this country, and our school districts are not immune to that strain,” said Thurmond. “School districts must be able to afford quality healthcare for their employees, and all school employees deserve access to quality healthcare for themselves and their families.”

Thurmond applauded the TRUSD and Twin Rivers United Educators for recently reaching an agreement to end what had reportedly become the longest strike in state history and allowing schools to welcome students back to class on Monday, March 23, 2026. Thurmond also recognized Assemblymember Maggy Krell (D-Sacramento) for her efforts to support compromise to bring an end to the long strike.

The challenges are far from over for TRUSD and many other districts, however. Thurmond noted that rising healthcare costs continue to be a significant barrier in negotiations. Thurmond announced that he will be establishing a statewide workgroup to identify new sources of revenue that impacted districts such as TRUSD can use to offset the rising costs of healthcare.

Those interested in participating in the workgroup should fill out the State Superintendent's Healthcare Cost Working Group Interest Form
.

# #

Tony Thurmond —
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

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