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School Boards Long Locally Focused And Nonpartisan Get Dragged Into

Leo Migdal
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school boards long locally focused and nonpartisan get dragged into

Professor of Educational Leadership, Miami University Kathleen Knight Abowitz does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic... Miami University provides funding as a member of The Conversation US. In more than 90% of U.S. public school districts, school board elections are nonpartisan and have been for centuries. But that long tradition may well be changing – and putting at risk the quality of the country’s education system by introducing divisive national political issues into the process by which a local community...

At present, nine states have passed legislation that enables school board races to be partisan. Four states provide for board elections that have partisan affiliations listed on the ballot; another five states permit districts to choose nonpartisan or partisan races. Bills introduced in six states in 2023 would require or permit school board candidates to declare party affiliations on the ballot. In more than 90% of U.S. public school districts, school board elections are nonpartisan and have been for centuries. But that long tradition may well be changing – and putting at risk the quality of the country’s education system by introducing divisive national political issues into the process by which a local community...

At present, nine states have passed legislation that enables school board races to be partisan. Four states provide for board elections that have partisan affiliations listed on the ballot; another five states permit districts to choose nonpartisan or partisan races. Bills introduced in six states in 2023 would require or permit school board candidates to declare party affiliations on the ballot. In 2024, lawmakers in Iowa, New Hampshire and Arizona introduced similar bills. Neither Iowa’s nor New Hampshire’s bill has yet been voted on, and Arizona’s bill was vetoed by the governor. Floridians will decide on partisan school board elections at the ballot box in November 2024.

The sponsor of the 2023 bill in Ohio, which has not yet passed, said partisan elections provide voters with better “information about candidate platforms.” As a former school board member in Ohio and a scholar of educational leadership, I see this shift having the potential to disrupt the important work of nonpartisan school boards in communities across the... School boards, especially elected ones, are the bedrock of our democracy, yet they're critically overlooked and underserved. These vital, community-led institutions, designed to give citizens a direct say in local education, are essential for healthy communities. My colleague, Dr. Julie Corbett from Corbett Education Consulting and a former school board member says we are going to have to make some changes to ensure that school boards are able to act as pillars of...

"Despite the immense value of school boards, their elections suffer from abysmally low turnout, their mostly volunteer members lack sufficient research-based training, and members face increasing threats to their personal security. If we want a truly representative and functional democracy we must change this with an investment of time and money. "As former school board member, Dr. Kim Bridges, aptly states in a forthcoming podcast, ‘School boards are our most proximate democracies.’ Since their inception in Massachusetts 1647 and formalization in 1826, school boards have been a community-led approach to governing... Many school board members don’t plan on running for office, and often run and serve in an effort to build solutions for other families that they experienced – such as navigating the often-daunting special... "While we strive to keep schools ‘apolitical,’ education is inherently political.

School boards, whether partisan or nonpartisan, are also frequently caught in the clash of political ideologies and shifting state and national policies. The New Jersey School Boards Association, a federation of boards of education, provides training, advocacy and support to advance public education and promote the achievement of all students through effective governance. Our services help you carry out your responsibilities, tackle tough challenges, and realize the rewards of successful boardsmanship. Whether you are a new board member looking to bolster your skills or a veteran seeking to help others, the New Jersey School Boards Association offers ways to get involved. One of them is by joining an NJSBA committee. NJSBA represents the interests of local boards of education wherever key decisions are made—in the state Legislature, in Congress, in the courts, and in the court of public opinion.

Your field service representative (FSR) is a wonderful resource and your district’s primary point of contact with NJSBA. Sign up for Chalkbeat’s free weekly newsletter to keep up with how education is changing across the U.S. The election of a progressive mayor who has said he wants to end mayoral control of New York City schools might seem like a bellwether. The next largest school systems, Los Angeles and Miami-Dade County, have been run by elected boards for years. Chicago is transitioning to a fully elected board after decades under mayoral control. But don’t bury mayoral control just yet.

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani hasn’t laid out clear plans, and his references to “co-governance” could mean a lot of things, including an ongoing role for the mayor. Learn more about our mission, vision, and strategic direction Founded in 1940, the National School Boards Association’s (NSBA) purpose is to ensure each student everywhere has access to excellent and equitable public education governed by high-performing school board leaders and supported by the... The Advocacy Institute is dedicated to advancing educational equity and advocating for policies that foster inclusive learning environments for K-12 public schools. As advocacy amplifies the voices and needs of marginalized communities, equity work ensures that policies and practices are implemented to provide fair and just opportunities for all students. This national event that brings together education leaders from across the country, offering a unique opportunity to learn about best governance practices, gain insights into child development, and explore cutting-edge programs and technology to...

Join us in San Antonio for an empowering experience of national school board leadership learning and networking with like-minded professionals. The October cover story examines the potential for artificial intelligence to transform career and technical education. Also, the recently updated National Career Clusters Framework, Kansas City Public Schools' commitment to music education, community engagement initiatives in urban schools, step-by-step guidance for applying for the 2026 Magna Awards, and the crucial...

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Professor of Educational Leadership, Miami University Kathleen Knight Abowitz does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic... Miami University provides funding as a member of The Conversation US. In more than 90% of U.S. public school districts, sc...

At Present, Nine States Have Passed Legislation That Enables School

At present, nine states have passed legislation that enables school board races to be partisan. Four states provide for board elections that have partisan affiliations listed on the ballot; another five states permit districts to choose nonpartisan or partisan races. Bills introduced in six states in 2023 would require or permit school board candidates to declare party affiliations on the ballot. ...

At Present, Nine States Have Passed Legislation That Enables School

At present, nine states have passed legislation that enables school board races to be partisan. Four states provide for board elections that have partisan affiliations listed on the ballot; another five states permit districts to choose nonpartisan or partisan races. Bills introduced in six states in 2023 would require or permit school board candidates to declare party affiliations on the ballot. ...

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"Despite the immense value of school boards, their elections suffer from abysmally low turnout, their mostly volunteer members lack sufficient research-based training, and members face increasing threats to their personal security. If we want a truly representative and functional democracy we must change this with an investment of time and money. "As former school board member, Dr. Kim Bridges, ap...