Sonja Shaw called Wednesday for California to bring back standardized tests, and to use the results to improve education at every level.

She wiped the floor with her Democrat opponent, Richard Barrera, in the one and only debate Wednesday for California superintendent of public instruction.

Shaw, a Republican who led a parents’ revolt against woke ideology and transgenderism in Chino Hills, knows what she is talking about.

She has a record of improving test scores and stabilizing enrollment in her district.

Barrera opposes the use of the SAT and other admissions tests, because he claims the SAT “excludes students” from public colleges and universities.

On the contrary — the SAT helps those students who deserve admission, and who can do the work required.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Students who score lower on the SAT aren’t “excluded” from higher education, but they can be steered toward more appropriate schools.

Right now, without the SAT, elite colleges are being forced to offer students remedial classes in fifth-grade math.

That is why more than 1,000 UC professors have called for the SAT to return. Shaw is on their side.

Barrera accused the UC professors of adopting a harsh “sink or swim” attitude.

Has he been on a campus in the last 20 years?

Barrera, who is backed by teachers unions, said that he saw the role of superintendent as that of an “organizer,” whose job is to “build coalitions.” He said he wanted to be a “bridge” between Sacramento and local school districts.

No. Californians don’t need another radical community activist or a patsy for the union leaders that are destroying public education in our state.

We want a superintendent who improves results by holding school districts and teachers accountable, not by schmoozing with union cronies.

Barrera didn’t even object to Gov. Gavin Newsom stripping many of the powers of the superintendent’s office. Shaw is pushing back.

She also said, correctly, that reading, writing, and math should be “priority number one” in our schools.

She added that she would take steps to protect female athletes from the policy of allowing biological males to compete against them.

Barrera called that approach following the “Donald Trump playbook.”

No, it’s a common-sense policy that is overwhelmingly supported by California voters,

Somehow, Democrats believe that they can respond to any question by saying “Trump” as often as possible.

If the debate were a standardized test, only one candidate would have passed.