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School Board Elections

All articles tagged with #school board elections

politics2 years ago

"Newark, New Jersey, Lowers School Board Voting Age to 16 and 17-Year-Olds"

Newark City Council unanimously approved a measure allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections, making Newark the largest U.S. municipality to expand voting rights to young people since 1971. The move aims to empower over 7,000 teens, particularly those from Black and Brown communities, to have a say in school board policies. Mayor Ras J. Baraka and council members support the ordinance, emphasizing the importance of engaging young people in democracy and addressing low voter turnout in the last school board election.

via Fox News|
#new-jersey#newark#politics
education2 years ago

"Local Culture Warriors Face Defeat as Voters Reject 'Parental Rights' Candidates"

Conservative activist groups advocating for parental control over school curricula suffered significant losses in school board elections across the United States. Voters rejected candidates backed by groups such as Moms for Liberty, which has been at the forefront of the culture war battles over issues of gender and race in schools. The results were seen as a repudiation of the far-right agenda, with voters favoring moderate or liberal candidates instead. The outcome of these elections could influence future races, as candidates may reconsider affiliating themselves with far-right groups. However, conservative groups like the 1776 Project still claimed some victories. The emergence of dark money groups and the involvement of political action committees have changed the dynamics of school board races, making it harder for candidates with extreme views to go unnoticed.

via USA TODAY|
#backlash#culture-wars#education
education2 years ago

Election Results: School Funding, Union-Endorsed Candidates Prevail

Minnesota voters approved union-endorsed school board candidates and school funding in competitive off-year elections, with teachers unions continuing to show their strength in getting their candidates elected. The conservative Minnesota Parents Alliance also saw success with 10 of their endorsed candidates winning board seats. The elections reflected a desire from voters to have a variety of opinions on the school board, with some candidates winning based on relationships formed with voters. Additionally, voters approved the majority of funding requests for bonds and levies, although some districts in greater Minnesota did not fare well. Educators are now hoping to shift the focus back to education and put politics behind them.

via MPR News|
#education#education-policy#minnesota
education2 years ago

Moms for Liberty-backed candidates face defeat as liberal and moderate candidates gain control in school board elections

Moms for Liberty, a group advocating for parental rights and conservative values in education, suffered significant losses in school board elections in Iowa. The organization, which supports school vouchers, book bans, and restrictions on LGBTQ topics in schools, endorsed candidates in the Des Moines and Cedar Rapids metro areas, but 92 percent of their candidates were defeated. Political experts suggest that the results indicate a rejection of the group's extreme positions and a desire for less politicization of schools. Teachers' unions attribute the losses to voters valuing local control and independence of school boards, and a turn-off from groups like Moms for Liberty getting involved.

via KCRG|
#education#iowa#moms-for-liberty
education2 years ago

"Parental Rights Movement Faces Defeat in School Board Elections"

Conservative activists advocating for parental rights in education faced setbacks in state and school board elections, indicating limits to the potency of these issues for Republicans leading into the 2024 presidential race. Progressive groups celebrated wins in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, Connecticut, and Virginia, with the American Federation of Teachers reporting that 80% of its preferred candidates were successful. The modest results for conservatives suggest that parents are seeking a return to normalcy, and Republicans may have fared better by focusing on expanding access to school choice. Democrats won new school board majorities in swing regions, such as the suburbs of Philadelphia, where debates over Republican policies restricting books and banning pride flags had been contentious. The unions and progressive groups also celebrated the new Democratic control of the Virginia state legislature, despite Republican governor Glenn Youngkin's support for parental rights. While there were scattered successes for the parental rights movement, the conservative push to restrict books and shape the history curriculum was criticized as a strategy to create fear and division.

via The New York Times|
#conservative-activism#education#education-policy
education2 years ago

"2023 Colorado School Board Elections: Winners, Losers, and Ideological Leanings"

School board elections in Colorado saw clusters of candidates backed by teachers unions leading in several districts, including Woodland Park School District. However, conservatives were set to retain control in other districts like Colorado Springs School District 11. The elections were marked by contentious and partisan campaigns, with hot-button issues such as student pronouns, sex education, and teaching about race. Super PACs spent millions of dollars trying to influence the outcomes, with the majority of the spending concentrated in a few key districts. The results reflect a demand from voters to keep political turmoil out of elections and classrooms.

via The Colorado Sun|
#colorado#education#education-funding
politics2 years ago

The Growing Political Influence of School Board Elections

Contentious races for control of local school boards are becoming increasingly polarized and nationalized, with candidates taking cues from national groups focused on parental rights. In the Lehigh Valley, a competitive and combative school board race is centered on issues such as curriculum review and parental involvement. The race has divided the community and brought national political debates to the forefront. The COVID-19 pandemic has further fueled the importance of school board decisions, leading to a shift in the traditionally noncompetitive races. The outcome of these elections could have a significant impact on district policies and the role of parents in schools.

via NPR|
#curriculum-review#local-politics#parental-rights
politics2 years ago

"Virginia's School Board Elections: A Crucial Turning Point"

School board elections in Virginia, particularly in Spotsylvania County, have become battlegrounds for political struggles and culture wars. The far right is fighting to gain control of local offices, often school boards, while the left pushes back with accusations of fascism. The nonpartisan nature of these elections is overshadowed by aggressive involvement from political parties and aligned groups. The fights center around issues such as parental control over education, removal of certain classroom materials, equity programs, and accommodations for transgender students. The toxic confrontations have led to chaos, polarization, and a breakdown of civility in public meetings. The outcome of these elections will serve as a barometer for voter sentiment heading into the 2024 elections.

via The Associated Press|
#civility#education#political-polarization
politics2 years ago

Democrats Rally for School Board Control to Address LGBT Issues

Democrats are pushing for control of the Central Bucks School District in Pennsylvania, the state's third-largest district, in a school board race that has been marked by sexually explicit pamphlets, contentious lawn signs, and accusations of lying. This race is part of a larger trend of local school board elections taking place across the country, with education expected to play a significant role in the 2024 presidential campaign.

via The Wall Street Journal|
#democrats#education#lgbt-issues
politics2 years ago

Court Allows Non-Citizens to Vote in San Francisco School Board Elections

A state appeals court in California has ruled in favor of laws in two cities, including San Francisco, that allow noncitizen parents to vote in school board elections. The court overturned a previous ruling that declared the legislation invalid, stating that the "may vote" language in the state Constitution does not restrict the authority of state or local governments to expand voting rights. The decision has sparked debate over whether the Founding Fathers intended to allow non-citizens to vote in American affairs. The ruling is seen as a victory for immigrant parents and proponents argue that it leads to better outcomes for all students and communities. However, critics argue that allowing non-citizens to vote goes against the intentions of the Constitution.

via Fox News|
#california#court-ruling#non-citizens
education2 years ago

School Election and Budget Results Across Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam Counties.

Most school budget proposals in the Lower Hudson Valley were easily passed by voters Tuesday, but at least two spending plans got rejected. Elmsford's proposed $43.3 million budget and Blind Brook's $57 million budget plan were both defeated by voters. Blind Brook was one of only 16 districts in New York seeking to override its tax cap, meaning it needed a supermajority of 60%. The election comes as districts continue to face residual academic, behavioral and mental health challenges from the pandemic.

via The Journal News|
#capital-reserve-fund#education#pandemic-challenges
politics2 years ago

GOP culture warriors suffer major losses in school board races.

School board candidates who ran culture-war campaigns lost in the recent elections in Wisconsin and Illinois, with Democrats and teachers' unions boasting candidates they backed in Midwestern suburbs trouncing their opponents in the once-sleepy races. The winning record was particularly noticeable in elections where conservative candidates emphasized agendas packed with race, gender identity, and parental involvement in classrooms. The results could serve as a renewed warning to Republican presidential hopefuls like Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis that general election voters are less interested in crusades against critical race theory and transgender students than they are in funding schools and ensuring they are safe.

via POLITICO|
#culture-wars#democrats#education