Public school advocates have defeated an attempt to repeal Massachusetts’ income tax, the Associated Press said, rejecting a ballot question that opponents warned would have forced a drastic cutback in education programs and services.

Several groups representing towns, cities, and school districts worked to defeat the ballot question. The Massachusetts Education Association, an affiliate of the National Education Association, created a Web site dedicated to defeating the income tax repeal. The site’s fact sheet said the repeal would put “education at risk” with larger class sizes, school closings, and cutbacks in after-school programs.