Elections

Learn more about how federal, state, and local elections affect schools
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Federal Voters Want Republicans and Democrats to Talk About Learning Recovery, Not Culture Wars
A recent Democrats for Education Reform poll shows a disconnect between political candidates and voters on education issues.
Libby Stanford, July 15, 2022
4 min read
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Policy & Politics Opinion Tired of Uninformed School Board Candidates? Try Asking These Questions
Candidates who peddle fear mongering as the cornerstone of their platforms are often clueless about what really goes on in schools.
Peter DeWitt, April 19, 2022
8 min read
Jennifer Esau, center, an Oklahoma teacher who is running for a state Senate seat, talks with Sandra Yost in Claremore, Okla., as she and her 16-year-old daughter Isabelle, right, canvass her district for votes earlier this month.
Jennifer Esau, center, an Oklahoma teacher who ran for a state Senate seat in the 2018 election, talks with Sandra Yost in Claremore, Okla., as she and her 16-year-old daughter Isabelle, right, canvass her district for votes.
Brandi Simons/Education Week
Teaching Profession Hundreds of Teachers Ran for Office Demanding Better Pay. Who Were They?
Thirty percent of more than 400 teachers who ran for state legislative seats in 2018 were elected.
Madeline Will, January 31, 2022
4 min read
Kristin Allan won a nonpartisan race for a seat on the Cherry Creek school district's board in Colorado.
Kristin Allan won a nonpartisan race for seat on the Cherry Creek school district's board in Colorado.
Rachel Woolf for Education Week
School & District Management Critical Race Theory Fights Have Made Life Miserable for School Board Candidates
Discussing the divisive issue in a way that works with voters is no easy task. Just ask those who've tried it, with mixed results.
Andrew Ujifusa, December 14, 2021
8 min read
Stephanie Parra, Governing Board Member at Phoenix Union School District and Executive Director of ALL in Education Arizona, sits for a portrait at the nonprofit’s space at Galvanize Phoenix in downtown Phoenix, Ariz. on Nov. 15, 2021. Phoenix Union is majority BIPOC students, but school board and educator demographics in Arizona lag behind in representation and opportunity.
Stephanie Parra, Governing Board Member at Phoenix Union School District and Executive Director of ALL in Education Arizona, sits for a portrait at the nonprofit’s space at Galvanize Phoenix in downtown Phoenix, Ariz. on Nov. 15, 2021. Phoenix Union is majority BIPOC students, but school board and educator demographics in Arizona lag behind in representation and opportunity.
Caitlin O’Hara for Education Week
Equity & Diversity The Vast Majority of School Boards Lack Latino Voices. What Can Be Done About It?
Diverse school board members mean more opportunities for equitable policies, Latino leaders say.
Ileana Najarro, December 7, 2021
5 min read
Stephanie Parra, Governing Board Member at Phoenix Union School District and Executive Director of ALL in Education Arizona, sits for a portrait at the nonprofit’s space at Galvanize Phoenix in downtown Phoenix, Ariz. on Nov. 15, 2021. Phoenix Union is majority BIPOC students, but school board and educator demographics in Arizona lag behind in representation and opportunity.
Stephanie Parra, Governing Board Member at Phoenix Union School District and Executive Director of ALL in Education Arizona, sits for a portrait at the nonprofit’s space at Galvanize Phoenix in downtown Phoenix, Ariz. on Nov. 15, 2021. Phoenix Union is majority BIPOC students, but school board and educator demographics in Arizona lag behind in representation and opportunity.
Caitlin O’Hara for Education Week
Equity & Diversity Video Why Latino Representation on School Boards Matters and How to Make it Happen
School board decisions impact every aspect of students' education. A look at the value of Latino representation and work being done to get more elected.
Brooke Saias, December 7, 2021
5:23
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
States Opinion 5 Takeaways for Education From Virginia's Governor Race
In an election where K-12 schooling was widely seen as the central issue, Glenn Youngkin’s victory has important implications for schools.
Rick Hess, November 5, 2021
5 min read
Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin holds a broom as he greets supporters at an election night party in Chantilly, Va., early Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, after he defeated Democrat Terry McAuliffe.
Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, holds a broom as he greets supporters at an election night party in Chantilly, Va., after he defeated Democratic challenger Terry McAuliffe.
Andrew Harnik/AP
States Anxiety Over Schools Fired Up Voters This Year. What About 2022?
Election results from Virginia, New Jersey, and elsewhere suggest educators and schools will be firmly in the spotlight next year.
Andrew Ujifusa, November 4, 2021
10 min read
Paul Martino at his Doylestown home this month.
Paul Martino at his Doylestown home this month.
Elizabeth Robertson/Tribune News Service
School & District Management Parent Frustrated by School Closures Funnels $600K Into School Board Races
“I really started this to get accountability over the administration who dropped the ball, in my opinion," said the Pa. venture capitalist.
Peter Hall, The Morning Call, October 29, 2021
5 min read
Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin, left, gestures a he talks with supporters during a rally in Culpeper, Va., Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. Youngkin faces former Gov. Terry McAuliffe in the November election.
Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin, left, talks with supporters during a rally in Culpeper, Va. Youngkin faces former Gov. Terry McAuliffe in the November election.
Steve Helber/AP
States How One Governor's Race Has Channeled National and Local Anger Over Schools
Virginia's gubernatorial candidates are fighting over everything from parents' roles to banning books. Is this a preview of 2022 elections?
Andrew Ujifusa, October 27, 2021
8 min read
Teachers hold a rally outside the Senate Chambers in the West Virginia Capitol in Charleston, W.Va., on March 5, 2018. A West Virginia state senator introduced a bill on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, that would allow striking teachers to be fired. The bill also would allow county boards of education to order the pay of an employee to be forfeited for each day of their participation in a strike.
Teachers hold a rally outside the Senate Chambers in the West Virginia Capitol in Charleston on March 5, 2018. A new working paper shows teacher strikes put education issues front and center in political campaigns.
Tyler Evert/AP
Teaching Profession When Teachers Strike, Education Becomes More Prevalent in Political Campaigns, Study Finds
Teacher strikes have a profound and often unrecognized role in national politics, a new working paper suggests.
Madeline Will, October 27, 2021
4 min read
Image of people at voting booths.
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Law & Courts District's At-Large Elections Violated Minority Voting Rights, Federal Appeals Court Finds
The case involves school board elections in a majority Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish district with a large Black and Latino population.
Mark Walsh, January 7, 2021
3 min read
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., speaks about the coronavirus during a media availability on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, March 3, 2020 in Washington.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., speaks about the coronavirus on Capitol Hill in March.
Alex Brandon/AP
Federal Patty Murray Set to Lead Senate Education Committee After Democratic Wins in Georgia
The Washington senator, a former preschool teacher, is about to become the top U.S. senator for education policy.
Andrew Ujifusa, January 7, 2021
3 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Federal Opinion What Would a Democratic Sweep of the Ga. Runoffs Mean for Education?
Even a strong Democratic showing on Jan. 5 is likely to have a more modest impact on education than many might imagine.
Rick Hess, December 21, 2020
4 min read