The following is a list of measures appearing on state ballots Nov. 7 that relate directly to precollegiate education. It includes questions placed on ballots through a citizen-initiative process as well as measures that legislatures have put before voters in statewide referendums.
ARIZONA
Proposition 202: Would require cities and counties to adopt growth- management plans setting boundaries for new development, and require developers to pay full costs of schools and other infrastructure needed to serve new subdivisions.
Proposition 203: Would end bilingual education for students not fluent in English and require that such students be placed in intensive yearlong immersion programs that emphasized English-language instruction, along with other academic subjects. Waivers from those requirements would be provided at parents’ request for children 10 and over, or for those with special needs.
ARKANSAS
Amendment 5: Would establish a state lottery and legalize casinos in six counties; proceeds would be used to set up a state education trust fund.
CALIFORNIA
Propos ition 38: Would provide state-financed vouchers of at least $4,000 to offset tuitions at qualifying private schools, including those with religious affiliations. Students in both public and private schools statewide would be eligible to participate after a four-year phase-in process.
Propos ition 39: Would change vote required to pass local bonds for school construction from two-thirds majority to 55 percent. Would also require annual performance and financial audits on use of bond proceeds.
COLORADO
Amendment 23: Would require legislature to increase spending on schools by at least inflation rate plus 1 percent over next 10 years, thereby getting around an initiative approved in 1992 that set limits on new state spending.
MICHIGAN
Pro posal 1: Would provide vouchers of approximately $3,300 each to parents of students in school districts in which fewer than two-thirds of high school students graduate within four years; voucher would offset tuition at qualifying private schools, including religious schools. Measure would also permit school boards and voters statewide to authorize similar programs for their districts.
OREGON
Measure 1: Would require legislature to provide enough funding for schools to meet state education quality goals, or publish a report explaining why it was unable to do so.
Measure 9: Would prohibit any public school instruction that “encourages, sanctions, or promotes” homosexual or bisexual behavior. Sanctions for noncompliance would include full or partial loss of state funding.
Measu re 95: Would require that teachers’ pay raises beyond basic cost-of-living increases be determined by job performance, and not seniority or attainment of additional college credits.
WASHINGTON
Initiative 728: Would direct a portion of annual surpluses from state property taxes to schools on a per-pupil basis, and devote unobligated state lottery funds to school programs and construction.
Initiative 729: Would authorize establishment of charter schools run by nonprofit corporations.
Initiative 732: Would guarantee that annual cost-of- living increases be paid to school district employees.
ARIZONA
Proposition 301: Would raise state sales tax to pay for school improvements, including lower class sizes, school construction and repairs, a longer school year, and higher teacher pay.
COLORADO
Referendum F: Would allow state to spend surplus state revenues, up to $50 million a year over five years, on K-12 math and science education programs.
GEORGIA
Amendment 4: Would allow state to provide financial compensation, paid for by purchase of special license plates, for school employees killed or disabled by acts of violence occurring while they are at work.
IDAHO
House Joint Resolution 1: Would give state officials flexibility to use money from sale of school property for other real estate purchases, as long as proceeds ultimately went to state’s school endowment fund. Currently, state is required to put money from such sales directly into that fund.
OKLAHOMA
State Question 684: Would amend constitution to let state spend from a permanent school trust fund up to 5.5 percent of its annual market value to benefit schools —in addition to spending fund’s annual income, as is now allowed.
State Question 690: Would amend constitution to allow individual school districts to eliminate annual votes on school levies with approval from local voters.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Question 1: Would amend state constitution to allow a state lottery to benefit education.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Constitutional Amendment A: Would permit legislature to establish multiple classes of agricultural property for school taxation purposes.
Constitutional Amendment E: Would allow state to invest permanent school funds in stocks and similar investments with relatively high levels of risk.
UTAH
Initiative B: Would require that all property, money, or other assets lawfully seized and forfeited be sold or auctioned, with proceeds going to a state education fund.
VIRGINIA
Ballot Question 1: Would require proceeds from the state’s lottery to be put in a fund earmarked for expenditures on local public schools.
SOURCE: Initiative and Referendum Institute.
