Andy Thorburn

Andy Thorburn President, Contemporary Policy Institute Andy Thorburn is a businessman, a nonprofit founder, a former classroom teacher and an advocate for working people.

He has worked as an educator, union organizer, and entrepreneur, and at each phase in his life, he has prioritized the principle that any organization - a country or a company - gets the best results if it treats its people fairly, with dignity, and holds itself to a standard of excellence.
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Thorburn was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in New Jersey along with his two brothers. After coll

ege, Thorburn started his career in public service as a high school teacher in Newark, New Jersey. His leadership abilities were recognized almost immediately, and he was elected to a senior position in the local chapter of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Also while teaching, Thorburn attended graduate school at at Jersey City University. Everything changed in Thorburn's life in 1970, when he and other classroom teachers led a strike for better wages, better benefits, and better working conditions. Andy was jailed for the strike, along with numerous other teachers, but won the battle for livable wages, fair treatment for workers, and smaller classroom sizes.
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After leaving the classroom, Thorburn founded a small business that specialized in selling insurance to working families, particularly classroom teachers. This launched a truly remarkable career in business and philanthropy that has led to him creating hundreds of jobs, and providing retirement security to countless Americans at home and abroad. Today Thorburn leads the Contemporary Policy Institute. Thorburn has been married to his wife Karen for 36 years, and they have two children together. Andy and Karen live in Orange County, where they have lived for the past 18 years.

The Orange County Board of Education was warned that Explore Academy's charter school petition was deficient but the cha...
09/01/2026

The Orange County Board of Education was warned that Explore Academy's charter school petition was deficient but the charter was approved anyway. How? The answer may be in the old adage, "it's not what you know but who you know." The public record shows overlapping relationships among some key figures involved in Orange County's charter school landscape.

Those relationships include connections among:
• Explore Academy leadership
• Orange County Board of Education members
• California Policy Center
• Parent Union
• Charter school advocacy organizations

These connections do not, by themselves, prove that the Board's decision was improper. But they do raise legitimate questions about whether the approval process was sufficiently independent and whether potential conflicts or shared advocacy networks received adequate public scrutiny. What we do know is that Explore Academy is now closed.

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How does California rank in public education?The latest national testing shows a mixed picture. California students perf...
08/31/2026

How does California rank in public education?

The latest national testing shows a mixed picture. California students perform slightly below the national average in math, while reading scores are similar to the national average.

One important caveat: California educates an unusually large and diverse student population, including one of the nation’s largest populations of English learners — a factor that can affect comparisons based on statewide averages.

There’s progress to build on, but plenty of work remains, particularly in math and closing persistent achievement gaps.

California isn’t at the bottom - not even close. But a state with our resources can aim higher!

Explore Academy charter school is now closed but should it have ever opened?What's striking is that Orange County Depart...
08/28/2026

Explore Academy charter school is now closed but should it have ever opened?

What's striking is that Orange County Department of Education staff recommended denying the school's charter in 2021, citing concerns that the proposal did not demonstrate an ability to meet the legal standards for a countywide charter and identified multiple deficiencies in the petition. There were MANY concerns, about enrollment, finances and even curriculum.

The Orange County Board of Education approved it anyway.

Now, after years of fiscal concerns and ultimate closure, it's fair to ask: Why was the staff's recommendation ignored? Trustees see themselves as champions of charter schools, arguing that increased competition and educational alternatives improve overall school quality. Yet, charter schools do NOT outperform Orange County public schools and put a drain on badly needed resources.

Check out CPI’s Policy Statement on Charter Schools and learn more about an issue that impacts every school: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CfCWbi3gIpc8jaEfiXHeFcw1eGS223ahFE6oEx0BrCU/edit?tab=t.0
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🏠 Nearly 300,000 California students experienced homelessness in a single school year.A new report from the UCLA Center ...
08/28/2026

🏠 Nearly 300,000 California students experienced homelessness in a single school year.

A new report from the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools found that nearly 300,000 K–12 students experienced homelessness during 2024–25 — a new statewide peak, up from roughly 270,000 in 2020.

The disparities are especially troubling: 1 in 12 Black students and 1 in 12 American Indian/Alaska Native students were identified as experiencing homelessness.

Housing instability doesn’t stop at the schoolhouse door. It can disrupt attendance, learning and a student’s ability to thrive.

California’s homelessness crisis is also an education crisis — and addressing it requires ensuring students and families have the stability and support they need to succeed.



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META REACHES LANDMARK CHILD-SAFETY SETTLEMENTMeta has reached a multibillion-dollar settlement with a bipartisan coaliti...
08/27/2026

META REACHES LANDMARK CHILD-SAFETY SETTLEMENT

Meta has reached a multibillion-dollar settlement with a bipartisan coalition of states over allegations that Facebook and Instagram used addictive features that harmed children and teens.

The agreement includes billions in payments and new protections for users under 18, including daily time limits, overnight restrictions, stronger parental controls and limits on potentially harmful features.

Meta denies wrongdoing, but the settlement sends a clear message: Protecting children online must come before maximizing engagement. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who led the coalition of states suing Meta, announced the agreement today.

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📚 SPECIAL EDUCATION COMPLAINTS RISEWritten state complaints involving special education in California rose 46% between t...
08/26/2026

📚 SPECIAL EDUCATION COMPLAINTS RISE

Written state complaints involving special education in California rose 46% between the 2024–25 and 2025–26 school years.

The increase may reflect several factors, including more disputes over services and reduced federal civil rights staffing, which may be shifting more families toward California’s state complaint process.

The increase is significant and underscores the importance of ensuring families have effective ways to resolve disputes and protect the rights of students with disabilities.

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🏛️ Who Gets to Rename America’s Federal Buildings? Congress Says: Congress.Reps. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and April McClain Delan...
08/24/2026

🏛️ Who Gets to Rename America’s Federal Buildings? Congress Says: Congress.

Reps. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and April McClain Delaney (D-MD) have introduced the Congressional Authorization for Federal Building Names Act, legislation designed to make clear that federal buildings and institutions cannot simply be renamed by presidential decree or administrative action.

The bill would require explicit congressional authorization before the name of federal property can be changed.

The legislation follows controversies involving efforts by the Trump administration and its allies to rename or alter the names of prominent federal institutions, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the U.S. Institute of Peace.

The principle behind the bill is straightforward: Federal institutions belong to the American people—not to any president or administration. You can go to CPI's website and fill out a petition demanding legislative action: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeg3dk_tOEQ9nWrIATMuG_fXOfV-C0Qh-Tqdf94ekA17xTBqQ/viewform?fbclid=IwY2xjawQbKFlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEwbHY4S1o3c0lub01nWVdwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnx5blMleeLSEoYkPHmm6kFlTtZSMT4PghE41M6g-j1YG4rNm_Hz9WJ1TnVL_aem_9rlBt9NBtZpQr3_JEXBMdA

🍎 A New School Year—and New Support for California Students!As students head back to school, California is beginning the...
08/20/2026

🍎 A New School Year—and New Support for California Students!

As students head back to school, California is beginning the year with several major statewide investments:

🎒 Universal Transitional Kindergarten — TK is now available statewide as a public-school grade, giving every 4-year-old access to an early learning opportunity.
🍎 Free school meals for every student — California continues universal breakfast and lunch, regardless of family income.
🫁 Emergency inhalers in public schools — Schools will have rescue inhalers available for students experiencing asthma-related breathing emergencies.
🧠 Mental health & special education — California is also highlighting major investments aimed at expanding student mental-health services and strengthening support for students with disabilities.

Taken together, these policies reflect a broader idea about public education: students are better prepared to learn when their academic, physical and emotional needs are supported.

A new school year brings new challenges—but also new opportunities to make California's public schools work better for every child.


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Trump Visa Restrictions Are Hitting U.S. CollegesInternational students appear to be reconsidering America.New internati...
08/19/2026

Trump Visa Restrictions Are Hitting U.S. Colleges

International students appear to be reconsidering America.

New international student enrollment fell about 17% in fall 2025, following tighter visa screening, interview disruptions and increased uncertainty over immigration rules.

The warning signs continue into 2026:
📉 International applicants from Asia: down 10%
📉 India: down 14%
📉 Africa: down 16%

Meanwhile, overall applications to U.S. colleges are up.

International students contribute billions to the U.S. economy and play an especially important role in graduate STEM programs and university research.

Critics concede stronger visa controls may address legitimate security concerns—but if talented students increasingly choose other countries, American universities, research and innovation could pay the price.

08/18/2026

If you really believe that public education is important, you must vote YES on Proposition 3 this November.

Prop. 3 protects billions of dollars for public education we are already covering.
It continues current tax rates rather than imposing a new tax increase and places the responsibility on Californians most able to pay.
Prop. 3 maintains existing rates on the highest incomes to protect $5 billion to $15 billion a year in revenue, principally benefiting California schools and community colleges. This is not time to cut support for schools. Let’s do this! Support Prop. 3.
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