On Election Day, voters flocked to the polls, primarily to elect the President of the United States. However, as Education Dive previewed, at least 10 crucial ballot measures also emerged that will determine education policies in California, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington.
Yesterday, residents in those six states voted on charter schools, tax hikes for education funding, financial aid for illegal immigrants and the everlastingly contentious issue of teacher's unions. Today, the results are in.
Education Dive looked at what happened:
1. CALIFORNIA
What was on the ballot: Propositions 30 and 38, different tax increases aimed at improving the state's failing public schools system, went head-to-head. Proposition 30, sponsored by Governor Jerry Brown, called for high-income taxpayers to shoulder the burden of funding education and reducing the deficit in the state. Proposition 38, sponsored by education policy advocate Molly Munger, called for a more gradual sliding tax scale and aimed to protect the state's education funds from political re-appropriation.
The result: If both measures had received a majority of the vote, only the measure with the larger majority would take effect. That, however, is not the case. As of this morning, with 100% of precincts reporting, voters overwhelming rejected proposition 38 — 72.3% of Californians voted no. Meanwhile, proposition 38 was less overwhelmingly approved — 53.9% of Californians voted yes.
What it means: An expected annual $6 billion will be poured into education in the state. Automatic trigger cuts of $6 billion to education will not take place.
2. GEORGIA
What was on the ballot: After the Georgia Supreme Court deemed the state-run charter commission to be unconstitutional, legislators passed Amendment 1, a constitutional amendment allowing the state to finance and ratify charter schools. On Election Day, voters decided whether to approve or reject the amendment.
The result: With 158 of 159 counties reporting, voters in Georgia approved Amendment 1 — 58.5% to 41.5%.
What it means: Local communities can now apply to have the state approve and finance charters. This will likely mean the reinstatement of the Georgia Charter Schools Commission, which was previously ruled to be unconstitutional.
3. IDAHO
What was on the ballot: In 2011, Idaho passed the Students Come First laws to fund blended learning, cut tenure and dramatically reduce collective bargaining rights for teachers. On Election Day, Idaho voted on propositions 1, 2 and 3 — veto referendums on the Students Come First laws.
The result: Voters in Idaho decisively rejected the laws. 56% of voters rejected proposition 1, which restricts collective bargaining rights. 57% rejected proposition 2, which called for performance pay. Over 66% rejected proposition 3, which required technology implementation in the classroom.
What it means: The Students Come First laws are no more. Teacher's unions can collectively bargain contracts once again, a new pay-for-performance blueprint will not go into effect, schools will not be required to use computers in the classroom and students will not be required to take at least two online classes.
4. MARYLAND
What was on the ballot: Last year, Governor O'Malley signed the Dream Act, which gave undocumented students in Maryland the right to pay in-state tuition rates. On Election Day, voters in the state of Maryland were asked whether they wanted to keep the law or repeal it.
The result: The law was approved — 57% to 43%.
What it means: Undocumented students who satisfy tax and residency requirements will pay in-state tuition rates, as opposed to higher out-of-state rates, should they decide to enroll in the state's higher education system.
5. NEW JERSEY
What was on the ballot: Governor Christie and the state's legislature approved the Building Our Future Bond Act, a $750 million bond issuance to increase higher education funding. On Election Day, New Jersey voted on Question 1 to either approve or reject the Bond Act.
The result: Although voting was extended due to the impact of Hurricane Sandy and an official count has yet to be released, results in the Garden State indicate the Bond Act passed.
What it means: Money from the bond issuance will be invested in the state's institutions of higher education. Public research universities will receive $300 million, public colleges and universities will receive $247.5 million, county colleges will receive $150 million and private institutions with an endowment less than $1 billion will receive $52.5 million.
6. WASHINGTON
What was on the ballot: On Election Day, voters in the state of Washington decided on the Washington Public University Investments Amendment and the Washington Charter School Initiative.
What it means: The University of Washington and Washington State University will not be allowed to invest public funds to grow their endowments. A nine-person state charter school commission will ratify or reject proposed charters; school districts can apply for the power to do the same.
- In Florida, voters rejected public funds for religious institution, including religious schools.
- In Indiana, Superintendent Tony Bennett, a proponent of privatized education, lost re-election.
- In Michigan, voters rejected guaranteed collective bargaining rights.
- In Missouri, voters rejected an increase in the tobacco tax, which would primarily have funded education in the state.
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