School board seats and funding fights: The education ballot initiatives flying under the radar
On Tuesday, voters in Florida, Colorado and Kentucky will make major decisions about their education systems.
Millions of dollars have been spent by activists and groups from both sides on issues such as school choice, partisan school board elections, and abortion. These fights often garner fewer headlines compared to other ballot measures like marijuana or abortion.
Election Day is a rare chance for voters to address these issues directly.
“Even though ballot initiatives differ in different states […] The core of it all is ensuring we have a public education system well-funded that is designed for our students,” Becky Pringle said, President of the National Education Association.
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Voters in Kentucky, Colorado, and Nebraska are making choices that will either help or hinder school choice programs. These programs have been well received by state legislators but have not yet faced a serious challenge at the polls.
Nebraska’s initiative aims to repeal a state law that allows public funds to be used to fund private schools. Colorado will decide whether to make school choice a constitutional right, and Kentucky is looking to amend its constitution to include choice programs.
The Courier Journal reported that Kentucky Senator Rand Paul (R), said, “Every child, in every neighborhood and of every class, color, and background, deserves a school which will help them to succeed.”
Paul continued, “Educational Freedom as proposed by Amendment 2 ensures that students can learn in the best possible environment and breaks the cycle of poverty that keeps children from achieving their full potential far too often.”
Amendment 1 in Florida will determine whether future school board elections are partisan. Education issues make regular national news.
At the moment, only four states have laws that require candidates for school boards to be identified according to their party.
“I am not for a single step that would lead to the politicization of school board elections. If we are all honest, then we know the results of politicizing things. Rosalind Osgood, a Florida state senator (D), said that we begin to base our decisions on the party instead of on people.
Four states, North Dakota, North Carolina Washington and Montana, will elect new state education directors.
In Washington, Initiative 2109 is gaining a lot of attention. It would eliminate the capital gains tax for the sale of stocks and bonds valued at more than $250,000. The money raised goes to schools in Washington.
Pringle stated, “We’re focused on Washington State where we know there is a ballot measure that we are fighting against […] We believe that billionaires should “pay their share”, Pringle.
She said that “that tax raised money” to “fund much needed construction projects, modernize buildings and install HVAC systems to ensure that our students breathe healthy air.” “All those things have already been done.”
A Cascade PBS/Elway survey found that 56 percent of respondents would not vote for repealing the capital gains tax. Around 29 percent would, and 15 percent were undecided.
If the amendment passes, Missouri voters will decide if sports betting is legalized. A 10 percent wagering fee and licensing fee would be paid to educational institutions.
Massachusetts voters will also weigh in on the importance of an exit exam for high schools. Question 2 will ask voters if they want to eliminate the MCAS test, which high school students must pass to graduate.
Pringle says that while education issues may be overshadowed by the major elections where voters decide who will control the White House and Senate, her group works hard to ensure the ballot measure is not ignored.
She said that one in 100 Americans was a member of the NEA.
They’ve been calling people across the country to ensure that they understand how important these ballot initiatives are for our students. We have made sure to include that information in our messages and in the conversations educators are having across the country with voters and educators.
