The San Jose mayor’s race has been unfortunately distilled down to a contentious debate on public safety, crime and pension reform. But if the next mayor focuses on one different issue, he will be able to address all of the aforementioned topics.

Joseph D. McNamara served as San Jose's police chief from 1976-91. He was a smart and courageous leader who brought national and international prominence to San Jose, introducing the city to the best practices in law enforcement.

It is curious that three local school boards viewed petition’s from two charter institutions as educationally sound programs, but Morgan Hill Unified School District continues to resist.

Just as President Obama will address the nation about a strategy to defeat ISIS, he should call for a plan to address the dearth of civics literacy among our youth, according to Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo.

The 2014-15 school year has just begun and rapid change is the new constant. The mantra of "wait a few years and the pendulum will swing back" no longer holds true.

I recently had the good fortune to observe a conference on collaborative international partnerships for higher education in Afghanistan. The restoration of higher education is key to rebuilding the war-ravaged nation.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Rolf M. Treu ruled last week that five provisions of the state education code are unconstitutional, including teacher tenure, sending shock waves from Eureka to San Diego.

Two years ago I wrote an open letter to Mark Zuckerberg, asking him to consider supporting public education by giving money closer to home. His latest pledge appears to answer that request.

It has now been 60 years since the U.S. Supreme Court made a landmark decision to provide education equity for all children. But race and income still too often dictate the quality of the educational experience. These issues apply in our 31 school districts in Santa Clara County.

In front of more than 150 people Saturday at the Mexican Heritage Plaza, San Jose mayoral candidates gave their thoughts on why the next mayor has an integral role to play in leading public education efforts.

This Saturday at 10am the county Board of Education will co-sponsor a mayoral forum on public education. When you examine the list of critical issues San Jose's next mayor will have to confront—public safety, transportation, affordable housing, libraries, etc.—nearly all relate to our children's education.

I was once optimistic that we could eliminate the achievement gap by 2020. But that seems unlikely if traditional public school supporters and charter school advocates don't start working together.

In the last two months I have had the privilege of participating in the search for a new provost for San Jose State University. While times are tough in higher education circles, I'm happy to report the school made the right hire in Dr. Andrew Feinstein.

The charter school world got body slammed once again at the National School Boards Conference.

Every middle and high school student in San Jose should be required to see and discuss the film 'Cesar Chavez: An American Hero.' His story still resonates with today's struggle for education reform.

Gov. Jerry Brown, in his first stint in Sacramento, was a bold and courageous leader. But today, the 75-year-old Brown refuses to support a cost-effective intervention of the achievement gap. Continuing down the path we’re on is suicide.