Policy Update: What Might the Mid-Terms Mean for Education?

By now, most of know the general outcome of the mid-term elections, but how might the results effect education? Check out your state.

CA- In the most expensive race for State Superintendent ever, Torlakson keeps his position. He had strong backing from the state's Teacher Unions, he supports Common Core, and represents a "status quo" for the state.

CO- Governor Hickenlooper (D) has been declared the winner. He has supported an overhauling for funding of public schools. The Denver Preschool Program which will mean an increase in sales tax in support of tuition credits for pre-school passed.

CT- Governor Malloy (D)- has supported expansion of charter schools and a reduction in student assessments.

FL- Rick Scott- (R) is the governor. He was strongly opposed by the state Teacher's Unions. He supports the state tax-credit scholarship program and wants to increase K-12 spending.

GA- Governor Nathan Deal (R)- supports a state-run network of charter schools.

HI- a constitutional amendment to use public funds for enrollment in private preschool programs, strongly opposed by the state Teacher's Union, failed. Hawaii is now the only the state in the US that does not have a mixed delivery- public and private providers- system for early childhood education.

IL- Governer Bruce Rauner (R)- wants to limit public sector unions. Voters approved a 3% increase on income taxes for those with an income of $1 million plus to go to education.
Goldman Sachs and Northern Trust are backing Mayor Emanuels' proposed plan for private funding to expand preschool in Chicago with a $17 million investment. This will be the largest private investment in the country if it is approved by the IL State Board of Education.

IN- If approved by the Indianapolis City Council, $350 million in private donations from PNC Foundation and the Eli Lilly Foundation will make public preschool a reality. The program would expand to include 4 counties by next Fall with the plan to serve 1,300 children.

MA- The state has a new governor, Charlie Baker (R) who wants to increase the number of charter schools.

ME- Governor Paul LePage (R)- wants competitive grants to increase early childhood education programs.

PA- Governor Tom Wolf (D)- wants to increase K-12 spending.

KS- Governor Sam Brownback (R)- is calling for an increase in K-12 funding, an easing of teacher licensure requirements, and an increase in school choice.

NH- a proposed pilot program to reduce student assessment in 4 or its 84 districts with a move to performance based exams needs approval by the State Board of Education.

The city of Seattle has approved Prop 1B using property tax to develop "available, affordable, licensed preschool options.

TN- This is the latest state to announce its "public vetting" of the Common Core standards.

TX- Governor Greg Abbott (R)- wants to increase early childhood education while making cuts to Head Start and K-12 education.

WI- Governor Scott Walker (R)- who restricted collective bargaining of labor unions, want to expand the state's voucher program and repeal Common Core.

We'll review other changes and what they might mean on the federal level soon. Stay tuned!