Voters To Decide On School Choice, Testing, and Partisan Boards On State Ballots

This Election Day, voters across several states are facing major decisions that could reshape their education systems.

According to The Hill, different activists and groups from both sides have poured millions of dollars on these ballot measures. Though these measures are not as popular as ones involving marijuana or abortion, they are still important and could cause major changes.

At the core of the educational fight in Kentucky, Colorado and Nebraska are school choice programs, which are a top Republican priority in many states. These programs would potentially redirect public funds toward pirate schooling options.

“Every child in every neighborhood, of every color, class, and background deserves a school that will help them succeed,” Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R) told The Courier Journal. 

While proponents of school choice argue it could help disadvantaged students, critics say that such programs would inevitably defund public schools, hurting primarily rural communities.

In Florida, will have the opportunity to vote on Amendment 1, which will determine whether school board elections will be partisan. Currently, only Alabama, Connecticut, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania identify school board candidates with party affiliation. 

Critics have said this could bias people into voting by parties and not by candidates.

“I’m just not in favor of even going down a road to start politicizing school board races. And if we’re all honest, we know what happens when we politicize things. We begin to make decisions based on party, instead of focusing on people,” said Florida state Sen. Rosalind Osgood, a Democrat.

Washington State’s Initiative 2109 brings another financial dimension to education, as voters will determine whether to repeal a capital gains tax that currently funds school construction projects and facility upgrades. This tax, according to NEA President Becky Pringle, helps modernize facilities and improve learning environments, yet remains controversial among certain constituencies.

In Massachusetts, voters will decide whether or not to end the MCAS, a test high schoolers need to pass for graduation in the state.

Meanwhile North Dakota, North Carolina, Washington, and Montana, voters will also elect state education superintendents who shape policy on issues from curriculum standards to teacher support, which could bring new educational agendas into effect.

While educational topics might be overshadowed by the presidential, Senate, and House races, these issues can cause major changes across states.