Putting Students First at the Ballot Box: Education Policy in 2024
Education has always been important — we’ve all heard the phrase, “Children are the future.”
Recent laws banning DEI initiatives, however, specifically targeting “critical race theory” and LGBTQ+ identities, have garnered national attention. Now more than ever, it seems that our schools have become a political battleground.
As we near the 2024 presidential election, voters will have a lot of information (and misinformation) to wade through on what candidates plan to do on the issue of education. We’ve streamlined it for you in this blog.
This blog will look at this rising problems with school funding and how that has affected educational equity and policy. We’ll compare ideas from Biden and Trump. We’ll also discuss recent conservative activism in local school board elections, which could impact the national debate on education priorities and policies.
The State of Education
Education funding relies mostly on state and local money, with little from the federal government. This has led to big gaps in funding between states, districts, high-poverty vs. low-poverty districts, and districts serving mostly white students vs. students of color.
A 2018 report found that higher-poverty districts get 7% less money per student from their states than wealthier districts. Students in these underfunded districts have less access to resources like teachers who have more capacity, technology, and support services like college and career counseling. Research shows that more funding improves educational and professional outcomes for low-income and minority students.
School funding is not only unequal but also unstable. After the 2007 recession, education spending per student plunged and took about eight years to recover. The COVID pandemic has made things even harder, forcing schools to deal with disruptions, health risks, learning loss, and student trauma.
Candidate Approaches to Education at the Federal Level
President Biden wants to provide more support for low-income families and make higher education more accessible. Parts of his plan include:
More money for public schools serving low-income students
Free pre-K and childcare
Two years of free community college
More Pell grants for the rising cost of higher education
Student debt relief
Raise teacher pay and support unions
Expand career programs and support diversity
The Republican candidate, former President Trump, has different ideas. He is pushing to:
Reduce federal control and funding over schools
Expand school vouchers and charter schools
Oppose free pre-K and higher education
Limit student loans and debt relief
Support parents opting out of school policies
Restrict teaching about race and sexuality
Reverse Biden’s equity efforts
Local School Board Elections
As important as it is for us to have a strong education advocate in the White House, the real impact on education happens on the local level. School boards make decisions from school policies, to your public school system’s budget, to course content and curricula.
Heated school board meetings have made frequent headlines. Conservatives are battling districts over issues like lesson content and equity programs. More political candidates are running for school boards, often backed by state or national groups.
The November 2023 school board elections showed mixed results for conservatives. Although some won seats by attacking “critical race theory” and calling for “parental rights” (a veiled term that often actually refers to anti-LGBTQ discrimination and curriculum censorship), many lost to liberal and moderate candidates focused on school quality and student needs. These results suggest conservative views on education may lack majority support.
While there have been some victories against conservatives in school board races, it’s clear that educational equity continues to be a hot topic. We must fight for everyone's right to a quality, anti-discriminatory education.
Education should provide every student the chance to succeed. We need a system that’s fair and supportive for all. The 2024 election offers a chance to shape education priorities.
Voters should take initiative and compare candidate platforms. We need all policymakers, educators, parents, and every other community member to work together to promote educational equity and opportunity.
After all, if children are the future, then our future is at stake.
Looking to organize around education policy, run for school board, or support education races? We’ve got you covered. Book a FREE 15-minute consultation call with us today!
Sources:
https://www.epi.org/publication/public-education-funding-in-the-us-needs-an-overhaul/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/11/10/voters-reject-moms-for-liberty/