
Leading Education Reform on the Local Level

By: Mari Barke, President of the Orange County Board of Education and Director of California Local Elected Officials (CLEO)
I never planned to run for public office — until I saw firsthand how school choice can change lives. When my daughter was bullied in middle school, I realized how important it is for every family to have access to the right educational environment. We were fortunate to transfer her to a private school where she thrived, but I knew many families didn’t have that option.
No child should be trapped in a public school that’s the wrong fit simply because of their ZIP code. That conviction is what pushed me to run for the Orange County Board of Education. I didn’t know the ropes of campaigning or governance, but I knew the stakes were too high to sit on the sidelines. Like many parents who step up to serve, I discovered that conviction and perseverance matter more than political experience.
When I was first elected, I was quickly chosen as Board Vice President. That role gave me the opportunity to help set an agenda that put students and their families first. Too often, entrenched school superintendents protect the status quo. While our particular governance structure on the county board of education as an appeals board is slightly different from local district school boards, my fellow trustees and I understand a fundamental principle: our duty as an elected board is to students, not the bureaucracy.
That understanding helps us focus on what matters to families most. For many parents, that means offering real alternatives to their district schools. Parents are best suited to know what their child needs, and it’s our responsibility as a board to respect and support those decisions.
That’s why we made it a priority to support the growth of charter schools — public schools unburdened by many of the problems conventional public schools often face. Families deserve schools that reflect their children’s strengths and give them a chance to succeed. Charter schools give parents a choice when it comes to finding the right fit for their child. Whether that means a focus on academics, the arts, science and technology, or simply a safer, more supportive learning environment, charter schools are a great alternative for many families.
In California, charter school growth is exploding across the state. In Orange County alone, charter enrollment has more than doubled — from just over 12,000 students in 2014–15 to nearly 26,000 in 2024–25. I’m proud to say that since I joined the Board of Education, the number of charter schools in Orange County has grown from 14 to 45. Watching these schools grow and their students succeed has been one of the most rewarding parts of serving on the board.
But these improvements aren’t just limited to charter schools. The majority of studies have found that the expansion of school choice has led to positive improvements in public district schools as well.
Just as we have supported the growth of charter schools, the board has also focused on another pathway that gives families a choice: interdistrict transfers. These transfers allow a student to attend a school outside of their assigned district. We serve as the appeal body for such transfers, so by the time parents come to us, their petition has already been denied by their home district.
But those denials rarely consider parental rights or what’s best for the student. They’re driven instead by bureaucrats who fear that approving interdistrict transfers will open the door to a mass exodus of families from failing schools.
Our board leadership believes parents know their child best and should be trusted to guide their education. That’s why one of my favorite motions is to “approve the interdistrict transfer in favor of the family.” Over the years, our board has granted hundreds of these appeals, giving students the opportunity to attend schools where they can truly flourish.
The work hasn’t always been easy. Pushback from the activists and lobbyists can be intense. But by standing firm, our board has helped put parents back in charge of their children’s education and opened countless new opportunities for students.
Serving on a board of education was never on my bucket list, but it has become one of the most meaningful chapters of my life. For parents thinking about running, I encourage you to go for it. And for current trustees, don’t be afraid to lead.
Every board faces challenges, but nearly all can support charter schools and approve transfer requests — and give parents real choices, right now, to access the excellent education their child deserves.
Mari Barke is the president of the Orange County Board of Education, and Director of California Local Elected Officials (CLEO), a project of the California Policy Center.