Voters in states including Florida, Colorado and Kentucky face major decisions on their education systems on Tuesday.
Activists and groups on both sides of issues ranging from school choice to partisan school board races have poured millions of dollars into the fights, which often generate fewer headlines than other ballot measures on abortion or marijuana.
But Election Day offers a rare opportunity for voters to decide on these education issues head on.
“Even though the ballot initiatives are different in different states [...] At the core of all of it is ensuring that we have a well-funded public education system that is designed for all of our students,” said Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association (NEA).
In Kentucky, Colorado and Nebraska, voters are making decisions that could help or inhibit school choice programs, which have done well among state lawmakers but have yet to face a real challenge at the ballot box.
Nebraska’s initiative seeks to repeal a law that would allow public tax dollars go to private schools. In Colorado, a........