Santa Clara County Voter's Guide On Children's Issues

California State Assembly, District 26

Tara Sreekrishnan

https://www.tarasreekrishnan.com

As the daughter of immigrants who achieved the American Dream, I’m worried it’s slipping away. We need Sacramento to protect the middle class and tackle rising costs. I’ve fought cancer, big polluters, and special interests. Now, I’m ready to fight for accessible healthcare, housing, and better public schools. Santa Clara County is worth it!

  1. Over 80% of voters polled say they want elected officials to prioritize children and families. What are the top three issues affecting our children and families and how will you make our region a place where all families can thrive?

    Affordable Housing, Quality Education, and Mental Health & Healthcare. In Santa Clara County, 73% of low-income students are not reading proficiently by the third grade, and mental health hospitalizations for children have risen from 9% to 19%. As a County Education Trustee, I’ve led initiatives creating 20 student wellness centers as well as a county school health clinic, along with the distribution Narcan across school sites. As a Legislative Director, I've supported bills to streamline affordable housing and ensuring families and students have the tools to succeed. I will continue to champion affordable housing opportunities and expand access to mental health services and early education.

  2. High quality childcare improves school readiness and parents' workforce participation. What will you do to improve access to high quality childcare and preschool programs in our diverse communities?

    With over 85% of eligible children (over 2,000,000 children) in California not receiving subsidized child care, expanding affordable access is critical. As an Assemblywoman, I will help secure funding for new childcare slots and I’ll push for additional funding to meet the state’s growing demand. I support expanding universal preschool and targeting resources to infants and toddlers, the group facing the highest unmet need. I aim to help close the gap by creating more subsidized childcare spaces and improving pay and working conditions for childcare providers and early educators.

  3. Much of the student achievement gap has been linked to the opportunity gap that children in low-income families and children of color confront (e.g., lack of access to healthy food, preschool, tutors, and enrichment activities). If elected, what will you do to increase equity of opportunity?

    California’s opportunity gap is reflected in the fact that 63% of low-income 3- and 4-year-olds are not enrolled in preschool, which impacts long-term academic achievement. I’ve worked to expand access to universal early learning programs and helped close the digital divide through initiatives that provided free laptops and internet for over 15,000 families that lacked access. I’ll continue advocating for additional funding for Title I schools, subsidized preschool, and access to enrichment programs, ensuring that all students have access to opportunity.

  4. What steps will you take to improve inclusion and outcomes for children with disabilities and their families in our community?

    Only one nurse is available for every 2,400 students in California, and many students with disabilities lack the specialized services they need. As Trustee, I have championed special education programs and pushed for increased funding to support inclusion. I’ll work to improve access to speech therapy, occupational therapy, and other services for students with disabilities, while also supporting teacher training to ensure inclusive practices are adopted across all schools. I'll build on my work with Senator Cortese and SCCOE's Special Education Inclusion Act (SB 692) & County Inclusion Collaborative, ensuring all students are seen as general education students first.

  5. If elected, how will you use the resources of your new role to improve children's well-being and access to mental and behavioral health services?

    With 55% of California’s children enrolled in Medi-Cal and facing barriers to accessing timely care, I’ve supported and led efforts to address this crisis by creating 20 student wellness centers across Santa Clara County schools and securing funding for mental health support directly at school sites. We know that students are 10-21 times more likely to use these services when we meet them where they are - at school. We must expand this wellness center model statewide, improve Medi-Cal reimbursement rates and school billing processes, and strengthen the pipeline for counselors in schools to meet the recommended ratio of 1 counselor per 250 students.