Arjun Jaikumar
He/Him
Election history: 1st-time candidate for School Committee
He/Him
Election history: 1st-time candidate for School Committee
Arjun Jaikumar is a 20-year Cambridge resident, Massachusetts native, and parent to a 4th grade CPS student. He currently serves as Assistant Attorney General for Massachusetts. He earned his JD from Columbia, worked at Wilmer Hale for several years, and clerked on the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Arjun currently serves on the Graham and Parks School Council and has coached Cambridge Youth Soccer.
He has been a vocal critic of the current School Committee, particularly around the superintendent search and communication around the closure of the Kennedy-Longfellow school.
Arjun Jaikumar wants the School Committee to play a larger role in transparency and oversight. He believes information silos have prevented the Committee from accessing direct, unfiltered data and "on the ground" feedback. He also feels the Committee should regularly tour and visit schools and educators, and build mechanisms to solicit that direct and unfiltered feedback.
Arjun wants to continue to de-emphasize MCAS and argues that MCAS scores reflect opportunity disparities, not school quality. Instead he supports alternative assessments (e.g., through the Massachusetts Consortium for Innovative Education Assessment), but is wary of "teaching to the test." He wants qualitative data from educators, caregivers, and students.
Arjun wants to reform Controlled Choice, but not abandon it. He proposes various operational fixes, including a flexible "saved seat" approach to buffer midyear entrants. Jaikumar supports following through on implementation of 8th grade Algebra, with continuous consultation with educators during, and data-driven evaluation afterward, to evaluate program success and whether more tracking or differentiated structures should return.
He also opposes charter school expansion and wants to bring a nonvoting teachers union representative onto the School Committee.
For months, we have watched as the School Committee has executed a superintendent search flawed in an almost incomprehensible number of ways. It has been like watching a train wreck in slow motion, yet being powerless to stop it.
I would ensure at least two full-time educators in all CPS classrooms through second grade, so that if kids come to school with skills gaps, as they do, we can get them the coaching and interventions they need get caught up by third or fourth grade.
| Organization | Cambridge? | Union? | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Residents Alliance | this cycle | ||
| Cambridge Education Association | |||
| Our Revolution Cambridge | this cycle | ||
| Cambridge Families of Asian Descent | |||
| Cambridge Advanced Learners Association | this cycle |
Pedestrian and cycling safety, policy, infrastructure, governance
Pedestrian and cycling safety, policy, infrastructure, governance
Lengthy panel on progressive issues; 12 respondents. This is the first year this has appeared.
Lengthy panel on progressive issues; 12 respondents. This is the first year this has appeared.
If Cambridge schools should adopt (or adhere to possible state adoption) of the IHRA definition
If Cambridge schools should adopt (or adhere to possible state adoption) of the IHRA definition
Forum run by the Cambridge Education Association union
Forum run by the Cambridge Education Association union
A two-panel candidate night hosted by the Cambridge Advanced Learning Association focused on achievement gaps and advanced learners.
A two-panel candidate night hosted by the Cambridge Advanced Learning Association focused on achievement gaps and advanced learners.
Roundtable discussion focused on "why" candidates want to run
Roundtable discussion focused on "why" candidates want to run
Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association School Committee Candidate Night 2025
Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association School Committee Candidate Night 2025
“The primary drivers of achievement gaps are economic inequality and systemic racism,” Jaikumar said. “Skills gaps, that later manifest as achievement gaps, are present from the time students arrive in our school buildings.”
Nov. 2, 2025“The primary drivers of achievement gaps are economic inequality and systemic racism,” Jaikumar said. “Skills gaps, that later manifest as achievement gaps, are present from the time students arrive in our school buildings.”
Arjun Jaikumar, district parent and a candidate for the committee, told Cambridge Day that it was “obvious” that the “$9,950 paid to The Equity Process was designed to circumvent a competitive bidding process.”
“It sure looks like that $9,950 was itself a sham, and that the intent was always to pay well beyond the threshold – but without competitive bids,” Jaikumar said.
Oct. 24, 2025 — Julia CarpiArjun Jaikumar, district parent and a candidate for the committee, told Cambridge Day that it was “obvious” that the “$9,950 paid to The Equity Process was designed to circumvent a competitive bidding process.”
“It sure looks like that $9,950 was itself a sham, and that the intent was always to pay well beyond the threshold – but without competitive bids,” Jaikumar said.
“I do not fault The Equity Process in this at all,” said Arjun Jaikumar, a district parent and School Committee candidate. “They were brought in late in the game. They’ve done their level best with the hand that they were dealt.”
The School Committee is preparing to vote on a final candidate, but like Montero and Goetz, Jaikumar wished the search had been paused until after a new committee takes over in 2026.
“I would see a new process starting with a new search done by a firm with experience in this space, starting once the new committee is in place in January, with a target of, I would hope, having a new superintendent in place in the fall,” Jaikumar said.
Sept. 29, 2025 — Julia Carpi“I do not fault The Equity Process in this at all,” said Arjun Jaikumar, a district parent and School Committee candidate. “They were brought in late in the game. They’ve done their level best with the hand that they were dealt.”
The School Committee is preparing to vote on a final candidate, but like Montero and Goetz, Jaikumar wished the search had been paused until after a new committee takes over in 2026.
“I would see a new process starting with a new search done by a firm with experience in this space, starting once the new committee is in place in January, with a target of, I would hope, having a new superintendent in place in the fall,” Jaikumar said.
Challenger Arjun Jaikumar raised staffing as an issue, saying that varying needs in the classroom cannot be met effectively with one instructor. “The best thing we can do to meet varying needs in the same classroom is to have multiple educators in every classroom. It’s just a fact that two people can do differentiated instruction better than one,” Jaikumar said.
Sept. 22, 2025 — Julia CarpiChallenger Arjun Jaikumar raised staffing as an issue, saying that varying needs in the classroom cannot be met effectively with one instructor. “The best thing we can do to meet varying needs in the same classroom is to have multiple educators in every classroom. It’s just a fact that two people can do differentiated instruction better than one,” Jaikumar said.
If I didn't think the district was in need of at least some new leadership, I would not have run, and neither would the other 12 challengers who have run this cycle.
Sept. 18, 2025 — Ann E. Gombiner and Dionise Guerra-CarrilloIf I didn't think the district was in need of at least some new leadership, I would not have run, and neither would the other 12 challengers who have run this cycle.
“Educators and families feel left out of the process, that there is a perception of a very top down culture in district leadership that people want changed,” Jaikumar said.
Sept. 9, 2025 — Ayaan Ahmad and Claire A. Michal“Educators and families feel left out of the process, that there is a perception of a very top down culture in district leadership that people want changed,” Jaikumar said.
School Committee challenger Arjun K. Jaikumar criticized the process, calling it flawed and potentially biased toward the interim superintendent.
“There’s a widespread suspicion in the community that this search is, and has always been, conducted with the intention of hiring the current interim superintendent,” Jaikumar said.
“If he winds up getting the permanent job, he will take it under a cloud of suspicion that isn’t his fault. This process hasn’t served him well, or the other candidates either,” he added. “It’s past the point of last minute adjustments. It’s time to halt this search process and start over.”
Sept. 3, 2025 — Ayaan Ahmad, Claire A. MichalSchool Committee challenger Arjun K. Jaikumar criticized the process, calling it flawed and potentially biased toward the interim superintendent.
“There’s a widespread suspicion in the community that this search is, and has always been, conducted with the intention of hiring the current interim superintendent,” Jaikumar said.
“If he winds up getting the permanent job, he will take it under a cloud of suspicion that isn’t his fault. This process hasn’t served him well, or the other candidates either,” he added. “It’s past the point of last minute adjustments. It’s time to halt this search process and start over.”