Elections

Learn more about how federal, state, and local elections affect schools

Election Guide

Election Guide 2022: Results on the Issues and Races Affecting K-12
Education was at the heart of some of the most contentious issues on voters' minds as they weigh candidates from governor to local school board.
Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton walks away after announcing Texas' lawsuit to challenge President Obama's transgender bathroom order during a news conference in Austin, Texas, on May 25, 2016.
Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton walks away following a news conference in Austin, Texas, on May 25, 2016. Paxton recently sued several Texas school districts for allegedly engaging in electioneering before the March 5 primaries.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP
School & District Management Advocacy or Electioneering? Education Leaders Walk Fine Line in School Voucher Debate
Texas is cracking down on district leaders' allegedly political speech—in what others see as a pretext for quashing anti-voucher sentiment.
Olina Banerji, March 11, 2024
5 min read
Image of a parent and child at a voting booth.
LPETTET/E+
Social Studies How Schools Can Prepare Students to Vote for the First Time
Students want more practical information about voting to prepare them for the polls.
Evie Blad, January 31, 2024
3 min read
Two teen boys sit behind a long table with a sign on the front that says "voter registration" in bold black letters.
High school students Sawyer Brockman, left, and Jack Skilling volunteer at the voter registration table for the presidential primary election at Windham High School, on Jan. 23, 2024, in Windham, N.H. Encouraging students to volunteer in elections can help them understand the process before their first time voting, experts said.
Michael Dwyer/AP
Social Studies Should Students Vote for School Boards? The Case for Lower Voting Ages in Local Elections
Doing so can give students more time to build lifelong voting habits, some advocates say.
Evie Blad, January 30, 2024
5 min read
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks during an election night rally after he was elected to a second term in Louisville, Ky., on Nov. 7, 2023. At right is his wife Britainy Beshear.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks during an election night rally after he was elected to a second term in Louisville, Ky., on Nov. 7, 2023. At right is his wife Britainy Beshear.
Timothy D. Easley/AP
States Liberals Win Hotly Contested School Board Races in Backlash to Conservative Control
A Democrat who championed teacher pay raises was also reelected Kentucky's governor and Democrats won legislative majorities in Virginia.
Libby Stanford, November 8, 2023
6 min read
A voter, left, carries her ballot to the counting machine after voting at a polling station on Nov. 7, 2023, in Richmond, Va.
A voter, left, carries her ballot to the counting machine after voting at a polling station on Nov. 7, 2023, in Richmond, Va. A new study explores what happens with student achievement, local charter schools, and teacher pay when educators win school board seats.
Steve Helber/AP
School & District Management What Happens When Educators Win School Board Seats, According to New Research
A new study explores what happens with student achievement, local charter schools, and teacher pay when educators win school board seats.
Caitlynn Peetz, November 7, 2023
5 min read
Photo of conference table with microphones.
iStock / Getty Images Plus
School & District Management School Boards Are a Political Battleground, But Many Races Still Go Uncontested
There are still many misconceptions about the job of school board members.
Caitlynn Peetz, October 19, 2023
8 min read
Image of an evacuation plan.
cheyennezj/iStock/Getty
School & District Management MAP: How Much Voter Support Schools Need to Fix Their Buildings, by State
In most states, school district bonds can pass with support from a simple majority of voters. Ten states require more support.
Mark Lieberman, October 6, 2023
3 min read
Voters fill out their ballots in booths on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at Petersen Residence Hall on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City, Iowa.
Voters fill out their ballots in booths on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at Petersen Residence Hall on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City, Iowa.
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen via AP
School & District Management Q&A Behind a New Effort to Recruit and Support Progressive School Board Candidates
By targeting school board races, this political group hopes to recruit candidates who can counter conservative messages.
Evie Blad, September 28, 2023
6 min read
People in privacy booths vote in the midterm election at an early voting polling site at Frank McCourt High School on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City on Nov. 1, 2022.
People in privacy booths vote in the midterm election at an early voting polling site at Frank McCourt High School on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City on Nov. 1, 2022.
Ted Shaffrey/AP
School & District Management Running for a School Board Seat? This Is the Most Powerful Endorsement You Can Get
New research shows that this endorsement in school board races is more influential than any other, with virtually no downside.
Caitlynn Peetz, September 22, 2023
5 min read
Republican presidential candidates, from left, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum stand on stage before a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by FOX News Channel on Aug. 23, 2023, in Milwaukee.
Republican presidential candidates, from left, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum stand on stage before a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by FOX News Channel on Aug. 23, 2023, in Milwaukee.
Morry Gash/AP
Federal WATCH: 5 Key Takeaways on Education From the 1st GOP Presidential Debate
Among the highlights: take on the teachers' unions, scrap the Education Department, and boost reading.
Libby Stanford, August 24, 2023
8 min read
Republican presidential candidates, from left, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum stand at their podiums during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by FOX News Channel on Aug. 23, 2023, in Milwaukee.
Republican presidential candidates, from left, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum stand at their podiums during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by FOX News Channel on Aug. 23, 2023, in Milwaukee.
Morry Gash/AP
Federal Broad Calls to Ax Education Department and Take On Teachers' Unions at 1st GOP Debate
Republican presidential candidates also used the first primary election debate to call for expanded school choice.
Libby Stanford, August 24, 2023
4 min read
Presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at The Gathering in Atlanta, on Aug. 18, 2023.
Presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at The Gathering in Atlanta, on Aug. 18, 2023.
Ben Gray/AP
Federal Ron DeSantis' Campaign Is Struggling. What Does That Say About His Education Platform?
The Florida governor's education agenda may not be as appealing to national voters.
Libby Stanford, August 22, 2023
5 min read
Former President Donald Trump addresses the crowd at the Moms for Liberty national summit in Philadelphia on June 30, 2023. Trump is more focused on education during his third presidential run, and has said multiple times that school principals should be elected.
Former President Donald Trump addresses the crowd at the Moms for Liberty national summit in Philadelphia on June 30, 2023. Trump is more focused on education during his third presidential run, and has said multiple times that school principals should be elected.
Matt Rourke/AP
School & District Management Trump Says Parents Should Elect Principals. What Would That Look Like?
The former president says principal elections will let parents take schools back from “radical Marxist maniacs."
Libby Stanford, July 14, 2023
7 min read
vote ballot initiatives money 1371378601 01
LAUDISENO/iStock/Getty and EdWeek
Budget & Finance Districts Proposed a Surge in Borrowing Last Year. Here's How Voters Responded
Voters approved a majority of bond elections for districts last year—but hundreds of proposed bonds failed to gain traction.
Mark Lieberman, June 7, 2023
4 min read