Voters in the South will Determine the Future of Education for Decades to Come
By Fred Jones, Sr. Director of Public Policy and Advocacy
Over the next two to three weeks, voters across the South will head to the polls to cast ballots in local, state, and federal elections. Much attention, and rightfully so, centers on the presidential election and its implications for future generations. Like the economy and climate change, education is a singular voting issue. In the southern region, there are nine U.S. Senate races, four gubernatorial races, one state superintendent election, and three critical statewide ballot initiatives, all with enormous implications.
The candidates running for statewide office in the South have vastly different visions for the future. For instance, some candidates want to privatize the public school system and create less inclusive environments for students from diverse backgrounds, identities, and experiences, while others seek to invest in and transform the existing public education system for all students. Southern candidates have also expressed interest in increasing access to student mental health services, improving educator compensation, and investing in HBCUs.
In this blog, we spotlight crucial southern, statewide, non-presidential election races, in which the winners will directly impact the future of birth through post-secondary completion education policies.
Gubernatorial Races and State Superintendent Races
Governors and state superintendents of education can have high levels of influence and power on critical decisions in education, including statewide education budgets, school funding systems, curriculum and instruction, and the recruitment and retention of high-quality educators and principals. Many governors and state superintendents also have the authority to appoint individuals to key positions who set essential education policies. Their decisions and political office influence the size and scope of public investments in the education system. See our quick snapshot analysis below.
Delaware: Matt Meyer (D) vs. Mike Ramone (R)
In Matt Meyer’s education plan, it reads, “…we must invest more in Delaware’s public education system and distribute resources more equitably, according to student need, to support low-income students, students with disabilities, and English Language Learners.” His plan goes on to say that he would like to invest $3,400 – $6,400 per student to align the state’s funding system with research shown to improve outcomes for students most in need.
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Mike Ramone (R) supports school vouchers and seeks to expand school privatization programs. In Rep. Ramone’s day one education plan, it reads, “Mike believes that all parents deserve a choice in their child’s education. This choice will be given to parents through vouchers or credits that allow them to choose their child’s educational path.”
SEF’s one-pager on School Vouchers
North Carolina: Josh Stein (D) vs. Mark Robinson (R)
Josh Stein (D), North Carolina’s Attorney General, education priorities include “…increase access to high-quality early childhood education so kids start kindergarten healthy and ready to learn.” He also believes that HBCUs are fundamental to North Carolina’s success and thinks the state should do more to support these mission-based institutions.
One of Mark Robinson’s, North Carolina’s Lt. Governor, education stances is to improve pay for educators. Lt. Gov. Robinson’s campaign website reads, “We need to invest in education by increasing teacher pay and ensuring our educators are valued.”
West Virginia: Steve Williams (D) vs. Patrick Morrisey (R)
In a recent town hall meeting, Steve Williams (D) said that teachers not only need additional pay and compensation but also tools to address student mental health issues as well.
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Patrick Morrisey (R), West Virginia’s Attorney General, believes West Virginia should have the most expansive school voucher and charter school system in the country.
*I excluded the Missouri governor’s race due to each candidate’s lack of specific education positions. You can access their respective campaign website here: Crystal Quade (D) and Mike Kehoe (R).
State Superintendent
North Carolina: Mo Green (D) vs. Michele Morrow (R)
Mo Green, the Democratic candidate, articulated that he wants to provide higher compensation for educators who work in the education system.
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Michele Morrow strongly supports school vouchers, which allow public money to be used by some to pay for access to unaccountable private schools.
Ballot Initiatives
There are also three K-12 ballot initiatives in the South. In Arkansas, Issue 1 is a proposed constitutional amendment allowing state lottery proceeds to fund scholarships and grants to students in vocational-technical schools and institutions. Florida’s Amendment 1 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would require school board candidates to disclose their political party, a practice voted down in a statewide vote in 1998. Lastly, Kentucky’s Amendment 2 would add language to the state constitution allowing the General Assembly to fund private and charter schools with taxpayer dollars.
As Nov. 5th approaches, the future of public education is indeed on the ballot in the South. The future of school vouchers, public education, anti-civil rights curriculum, educator pay, and dozens of other critical education policies have the potential to go in opposite directions depending on who gets elected. As important as the presidential election may be for our nation, dozens of governors, state superintendents, and ballot initiatives may have a more significant impact on local school systems.
If you care about the future of education, I encourage you to read over the education platforms of those running for office before you cast your vote.