While national attention remained fixed on President Barack Obama’s election victory Wednesday morning, education ballot initiatives yielded different results across the country, showing that public opinion has yet to settle either way on the movement known as education reform.
Reform supporters come from both parties, and tend to push for charter schools and grading teachers in accordance with their students’ standardized test scores. In some states, like Connecticut, South Dakota and Idaho, voters dealt the movement a significant blow, pushing back controversial measures that would have ended an elected school board, abolished teacher tenure and instituted merit pay. On the other side of the issue, a major charter school initiative in Georgia made it through, and the results for another similar measure in Washington were inconclusive as of Tuesday night, though it led in the polls as of Wednesday morning.
In general, the results demonstrate an appetite for some school choice, but a possible distaste for laws that dramatically change the way teachers are hired and fired. The decisions also show the limits of national education reform groups that funnel money into state races.
“Advocates on both sides are going to try to spin these initiatives as decisive wins, but the picture is much more mixed,” said Alexander Russo, an education blogger who used to work as a Democratic education advisor in Congress.
The National Education Association, which pumped millions of dollars into these races, rejoiced late Tuesday night. “This is quite a night,” NEA president Dennis Van Roekel said over the phone from Obama’s victory party in Chicago. “The ballot propositions show that we’ve turned a real corner in America.”
Some of the biggest changes to education policy recently have been changes to teacher management — these reforms range from local policies to the federal government’s Race to the Top competition, which incentivized teacher evaluations that take students’ standardized test scores into account. Those specific reforms fared poorly Tuesday. South Dakotans voted down a package of Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R) that would have ended teacher tenure and paid teachers in accordance with performance, giving each district’s top-fifth of teachers a $5,000 bonus. Sixty-eight percent of voters turned it down after the state’s teachers union got enough signatures to put the law on the ballot.
Idaho’s elections played out similarly. Shortly after state schools chief Tom Luna got three controversial education laws passed through the legislature and enacted, the Idaho Education Association sought to repeal them through a ballot referendum. The laws rerouted school funding to support increased technology in school; limit teachers’ collective bargaining rights and introduce merit pay to the state’s teachers.
The campaign around these laws got particularly heated, with the Idaho Secretary of State saying some of their supporters violated disclosure laws by not naming their donors, and with a supporter creating an advertisement that used footage of former-Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. At the time, Luna told HuffPost he thought those advertisements would help — and that out-of-state money from the teachers’ union would skew results. Overall, advocates and opponents dropped $6.4 million on Idaho’s school reform campaign — including $100,000 from former Washington, D.C. schools chancellor Michelle Rhee’s group StudentsFirst, $200,000 from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s super PAC (one of the formerly unnamed donors) and $2.8 million from the National Education Association.
In Bridgeport, Conn., voters turned down a measure that would have replaced its elected school board with one appointed by its mayor — despite a last-minute $20,000 donation to the cause from Bloomberg’s super PAC, and significant support from Rhee’s StudentsFirst.
But two measures supporting charter schools fared better. Georgia’s Supreme Court put a dint on charter school growth in the summer of 2011 when it deemed a state-wide commission that approved the creation of charter schools unconstitutional. The ruling caused confusion among charter school families, and reignited the debate over the purpose of charter schools and who they serve. A measure to restore that committee passed Tuesday night.
“The trend so far, which had been against using initiatives and referenda [to support charter school growth], has turned in Georgia,” Nina Rees, president of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, told The Huffington Post.
By 2012, only nine states do not allow for the creation of charter schools, which are publicly funded but can be privately run. Though the results are not official or fully reported, an initiative that would allow the creation of 40 charter school campuses over the next five years in Washington state was poised to pass.
“These votes trickle in via mail and it could be several days before the vote is finalized,” Rees said. “But the people on the ground there are very optimistic.”
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Arizona
strongBallot Measure:/strong emProposition 204/em — would create a permanent a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-raden/are-koch-brothers-behind-_b_2018805.html”one-cent-per-dollar sales tax/a to benefit a href=”http://www.kpho.com/story/19999656/proposition-204-permanent-arizona-sales-tax-hike”education and early childhood/a.
strongNEA Position:/strong Yes
strongStatus:/strong a href=”http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/state/poll-results-arizona-voters-reject-proposition-204-permanent-sales-tax-increase”Rejected/a
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California
strongBallot Measure:/strong emProposition 30/em — would raise a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/23/prop-30-california-budget_n_2005239.html”income taxes by 1 to 3 percent for the next seven years/a on individuals making more than $250,000, to fund public schools and universities. Also includes a href=”http://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/30/”quarter-cent sales tax increase/a for four years.
strongNEA Position:/strong Yes
strongStatus:/strong a href=”http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/elections/ci_21943732/california-proposition-30-voters-split-tax-that-would?source=most_viewed”Approved/a
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California
strongBallot Measure:/strong emProposition 32/em — would prevent unions from a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/12/prop-32-california-education-reform_n_1962536.html”using dues automatically pulled from employees’ paychecks/a to sponsor political activity.
strongNEA Position:/strong No
strongStatus:/strong a href=”http://www.pe.com/local-news/reports/election/election-headlines/20121107-proposition-32-initiative-on-unions-defeated.ece”Rejected/a
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Florida
strongBallot Measure:/strong emAmendment 3/em — would set a a href=”http://collinscenter.org/2012flamendments/amendment-3-state-revenue-limitation/”state revenue limit each year based on a formula that considers population growth and inflation/a, instead of using the current method of calculating the revenue limit based on personal income. Under current law, Amendment 3 would require the state, upon exceeding the revenue limit, to deposit the excess revenue into the Budget Stabilization Fund. If the reserve fund were to exceed its cap, the excess money would be deposited into a fund that supports public education, a change from current law.
strongNEA Position:/strong No
strongStatus:/strong a href=”http://www.fox4now.com/news/local/177579181.html”Rejected/a
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Florida
strongBallot Measure:/strong emAmendment 8/em — titled a href=”http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/article/278388/8/Breaking-down-Amendment-8″“Religious Freedom,”/a would remove the ban on a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/noah-fitzgerel/florida-amendment-8-infus_b_2059824.html”using tax dollars to fund religious entities, organizations, churches or parochial schools/a, saying taxpayer money can fund religious entities.
strongNEA Position:/strong No
strongStatus:/strong a href=”http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2012-11-07/8-11-proposed-florida-amendments-defeated#.UJp9ZWl25yk”Rejected/a
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Georgia
strongBallot Measure:/strong emAmendment 1/em — would re-establish an a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/06/voters-in-georgia-washing_n_2082739.html?utm_hp_ref=education”appointed statewide commission/a to authorize new charter schools.
strongNEA Position:/strong No
strongStatus:/strong a href=”http://www.atlantadailyworld.com/index.php/features/1050-georgia-amendment-1-passes-easily”Approved/a
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Idaho
strongBallot Measure:/strong emProposition 1/em — would a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/05/education-reform-backers-_n_1943023.html”limit collective bargaining rights/a for teachers and a href=”http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/inits/2012/Prop1_statements.htm”end the practice of issuing renewable contracts/a.
strongNEA Position:/strong No
strongStatus:/strong a href=”http://www.idahoreporter.com/2012/voters-soundly-reject-all-three-idaho-education-reform-propositions/”Rejected/a
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Idaho
strongBallot Measure:/strong emProposition 2/em —would implement a a href=”http://www.spokesman.com/elections/2012/idaho-general-election-2012/measures/statewide/idaho/77/”merit-pay bonus program for teachers/a based on state-mandated test scores, student performance, hard-to-fill positions and leadership
strongNEA Position:/strong No
strongStatus:/strong a href=”http://www.idahoreporter.com/2012/voters-soundly-reject-all-three-idaho-education-reform-propositions/”Rejected/a
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Idaho
strongBallot Measure:/strong emProposition 3/em — would eventually a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/25/schools-react-to-180m-la_n_2016601.html”grant a laptop to every high school teacher and student/a, and bring a a href=”http://www.spokesman.com/elections/2012/idaho-general-election-2012/measures/statewide/idaho/78/”renewed focus to online learning/a.
strongNEA Position:/strong No
strongStatus:/strong a href=”http://www.idahoreporter.com/2012/voters-soundly-reject-all-three-idaho-education-reform-propositions/”Rejected/a
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Illinois
strongBallot Measure:/strong emAmendment HJRCA 49/em — would require a a href=”http://dailynorthwestern.com/2012/10/26/city/illinois-to-vote-on-pension-related-constitutional-amendment/”three-fifths vote from both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly to pass pension increases/a for public employees. Currently, pension increases need only a majority vote in the General Assembly to pass.
strongNEA Position:/strong No
Status:
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Maryland
strongBallot Measure:/strong emQuestion 4/em — would allow some of Maryland’s undocumented high school graduates to 3, provided they satisfy certain criteria.
strongNEA Position:/strong Yes
strongStatus:/strong a href=”http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/md-voters-deciding-on-dream-act-law/2012/11/06/d539fe66-282f-11e2-bab2-eda299503684_story.html”Approved/a
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Maryland
strongBallot Measure:/strong emQuestion 6/em — would a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/06/maryland-election-2012_n_2040950.html?utm_hp_ref=elections-2012″uphold the state’s marriage equality law/a that allows a href=”http://www.marylandquestion6.com/”gay and lesbian couples to obtain a civil marriage license/a.
strongNEA Position:/strong Yes
strongStatus:/strong a href=”http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/11/maryland-passes-ballot-questions-6-7-and-dream-act-81812.html”Approved/a
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Michigan
strongBallot Measure:/strong emProposal 2/em — would a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/05/michigan-proposal-2-2012-debate_n_2076299.html”preserve the right to collectively bargain/a in the state constitution for both private and public sector employees.
strongNEA Position:/strong Yes
strongStatus:/strong a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/michigan-proposal-2-results-2012_n_2080767.html”Rejected/a
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Michigan
strongBallot Measure:/strong emProposal 5/em — would a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/31/michigan-proposals-2012-ballot_n_2051095.html”require either a two-thirds majority vote in the State House and the State Senate/a, or a statewide vote of the people at a November election to raise taxes.
strongNEA Position:/strong No
strongStatus:/strong a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/michigan-proposal-5-results-2012-taxes_n_2083104.html”Rejected/a
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Minnesota
strongBallot Measure:/strong emAmendment 2/em — would require that all voters in the state a href=”http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/a3c675ef62764c82a87908a68c93ea1e/MN–Minnesota-Election”show photo identification before voting/a in future elections.
strongNEA Position:/strong No
strongStatus:/strong a href=”http://www.twincities.com/elections/ci_21946038/minnesota-voter-id-amendment-trailing-60-precincts-tallied”Rejected/a
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Ohio
strongBallot Measure:/strong emIssue 2/em — would a href=”http://www.wdtn.com/dpp/elections/ohio-issue-2-the-nuts–bolts#.UJlrS7t4rB8″reform the way the state’s Congressional and legislative boundaries are drawn/a, a process known as redistricting that happens every 10 years, coinciding with the federal census. Issue 2 would remove elected officials from the redistricting process and hand the responsibility over to a new, 12-person citizen commission.
strongNEA Position:/strong Yes
strongStatus:/strong a href=”http://www.timesleaderonline.com/page/content.detail/id/542578/Ohio-Issue-2-rejected-by-voters.html?nav=5010″Rejected/a
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South Dakota
strongBallot Measure:/strong emInitiated Measure 15/em — would add a a href=”http://www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/small-school-district-wants-im-15-passed/?id=139510″one-cent sales tax/a for public education and Medicaid reimbursement.
strongNEA Position:/strong Yes
strongStatus:/strong a href=”http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/voters-reject-education-reform-plan-sales-tax-hike/article_f19719da-a565-538c-9a86-9dd9f393b74b.html?comment_form=true”Rejected/a
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South Dakota
strongBallot Measure:/strong emReferred Law 16/em — would establish a a href=”http://www.constantconservative.com/2012/south-dakota-referred-law-16-education-reform-act”teacher scholarship program/a; create a program for math and science a href=”http://www.argusleader.com/article/20121101/VOICES01/311010027/Editorial-Vote-yes-Referred-Law-16″teacher bonuses/a; create a program for teacher merit bonuses; mandate a uniform teacher and principal evaluation system; and eliminate state requirements for teacher tenure.
strongNEA Position:/strong No
strongStatus:/strong a href=”http://www.ksfy.com/story/20024377/south-dakota-voters-say-no-to-referred-law-16″Rejected/a
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Washington
strongBallot Measure:/strong emInitiative 1240/em — would a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/06/voters-in-georgia-washing_n_2082739.html?utm_hp_ref=education”allow for the creation of eight charter schools in the state annually for five years/a — a total of 40. After five years, the charter system would be up for review.
strongNEA Position:/strong No
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/education-ballot-initiatives-2012_n_2088587.html