Policy Priorities

We Focus on Solving Our Greatest Challenges

Fix Our Declining Education System

"You shouldn't have to move to Mississippi for your kid to have a good education."

California ranks 38th in reading scores behind Mississippi and Louisiana.

Around 60% of third-graders and fourth-graders can't read at grade level.

Just 1 in 4 eighth-graders is proficient in math, ranking 39th in the nation.

The state increased K-12 spending by 50% over the past five years.

At the same time, teacher pay rose by just around 15% on average.

California scored below the national average in reading for decades, but Mississippi always ranked far below. That changed in 2013 when Mississippi implemented reforms like investments in early literacy and a focus on evidence-based reading methods. Today, Mississippi ranks ninth in the nation. California ranks 38th.

How Do We Improve Education?

"Our goal is to get California's reading and math scores in the top ten nationally."

Pay teachers more and provide support so teachers can focus on teaching.

Reward and incentivize good teachers, and phase out bad teachers faster.

Reform education funding so resources reach schools that need them most.

Use evidence-based teaching methods and invest in early math and literacy.

Increase transparency and measure outcomes to track what isn't working.

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The 21st Century Alliance worked to help pass the 2023 legislation requiring all students be tested for reading difficulties like dyslexia through second grade. We also helped pass the 2025 'phonics' bill to turn around California's reading scores that have been low for decades.

Solving California's Housing Crisis

"Housing touches everything from education to the price of groceries."

Home prices nearly doubled from $475,000 in 2015 to $909,000 today.

Just 17% of Californians can afford to purchase a median-priced home.

The housing shortage costs California billions in lost jobs and revenue.

Prices increase and small businesses struggle to hire because of housing.

Most teachers can't afford to live in the communities where they teach.

California needs to build 180,000 new homes a year just to break even, so the housing shortage does not increase. The state has not hit that number in over 20 years!
California's housing crisis is getting worse every year.

How Can We Solve Housing?

"Our goal is to see California build over 180,000 new housing units a year."

Streamline the permitting process and standardize approval timelines.

Incentivize high-density development near transit corridors.

Reform regulations to work as intended without restricting new housing.

Protect communities by rezoning underused commercial space for housing.

Focus on affordable housing and lowering market-rate price together.

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Last year, 21CA helped pass the biggest housing bills in 50 years! Two bills, AB130 and SB131, streamline the permitting process to build housing faster. For decades, groups opposed to new housing could sue to slow down development by manipulating environmental laws. These new reforms protect environmental review while speeding up the approval process where it makes sense, like infill and vacant lots in cities.

Creating More Efficient Government

"When the state fails to track metrics, it wastes money that can solve problems."

California's budget doubled from $161B in 2015 to $322B in 2025.

In that time, homelessness rose 60%, and home prices doubled.

Today, 1 in 6 Californians live in poverty, and 1.3M people left the state.

We are spending more money on fewer people with less to show for it.

State agencies do not audit most programs or track metrics.

In 2024, California conducted its first major audit of state homelessness programs in decades. It found that the state spent $24B in five years on 5 programs but failed to properly track metrics. Just 2 out of the 5 were considered effective.

How To Create Smarter Government?

"Our goal is a balanced budget and clear metrics for every state program."

Prevent state budget deficits and build a stronger budget reserve.

Increase transparency in state spending and special interests lobbying.

Require audits of state programs to find what's working and what isn't.

Create online dashboards to track challenges like crime and homelessness.

Reform and streamline regulations to help California businesses thrive.

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Policy Priorities

Fix Our Declining Education System

How Do We Improve Education?

The 21st Century Alliance worked to help pass the 2023 legislation requiring all students be tested for reading difficulties like dyslexia through second grade. We also helped pass the 2025 'phonics' bill to turn around California's reading scores that have been low for decades.

Solving California's Housing Crisis

California needs to build 180,000 new homes a year just to break even, so the housing shortage does not increase. The state has not hit that number in over 20 years! California's housing crisis is getting worse every year.

How Can We Solve Housing?

Creating More Efficient Government

In 2024, California conducted its first major audit of state homelessness programs in decades. It found that the state spent $24B in five years on 5 programs but failed to properly track metrics. Just 2 out of the 5 were considered effective.

How To Create Smarter Government?

Write up what 21CA did on the fiscal, more efficient gov side of things.

California needs to build 180,000 new homes a year just to break even, so the housing shortage does not increase. The state has not hit that number in over 20 years!
California's housing crisis is getting worse every year.