Education Stakes High in 2010 State Elections

Regardless of how voters cast their ballots in the 2010 elections, the nation will witness a sea change in state leadership—and, potentially, big changes in the direction of education policymaking.

At least 20 governors will step down as of January 2011, based on those who are facing term limits or have decided to leave voluntarily. They include Republicans Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and Charlie Crist of Florida (who is running for the U.S. Senate) and Democrats Edward G. Rendell of Pennsylvania and Jennifer M. Granholm of Michigan. In all, gubernatorial contests will take place in 37 states next year.

“That’s a lot of governors leaving office at a time when gubernatorial leadership has been, I think, key to moving forward some pretty aggressive [school] reforms in states,” said Matthew Gandal, the executive vice president of Achieve, a Washington-based group formed by governors and business leaders that advocates...