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EDlection 2020

From the Oval Office to the statehouse, covering all the 2020 candidates who could reshape America’s schools

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Analysis: Whom Did Homeschool Parents Back for President in 2020? Trump’s Slipping Support May Signal a Shift in These Traditionally GOP Voters

Heath Brown

With Senate in Democrats’ Hands, Attention Turns to Ed Committee Leadership, Cardona Confirmation

Linda Jacobson

Infante-Green: Kamala Harris and Rhode Island’s Top Female Leaders Are Setting a New Example for Today’s Young Women

Angélica Infante-Green

Analysis: Science Matters Now More Than Ever. The Time to Start Teaching It Is in Elementary School

Jacqueline Barber & Matt Reed

Georgia Senate Runoff Will Affect Reach of Biden’s Education Agenda and the ‘Larger Political Dynamic’ in Washington

Linda Jacobson

Rotherham: Cardona a Deft Pick for Ed Secretary at a Time When Political Fights Should Be Secondary to the Disaster Facing Millions of Students

Andrew J. Rotherham

Anti-LGBT Activist Loses Orleans Parish School Board Race to a Gay Educator; 4 Other NOLA Runoff Elections Settled

Beth Hawkins

Harris: The Biden Administration Must Commit in the First 100 Days to Building Education Policies With Community, Not for It

Khalilah Harris

Message for President-Elect Biden on New Ed Secretary: Black Women are Watching What You Do for Our Kids

Lakisha Young

Slavin: An Open Letter to President-Elect Biden — a Tutoring Marshall Plan to Heal Our Students

Robert Slavin

Disability Rights Groups Send Letter to Biden Transition Team Opposing Education Secretary Contender Eskelsen Garcia, Say Former NEA Chief Failed to Steer Union ‘Toward Equity and Access for Students With Disabilities’

The 74

Former NEA Chief Eskelsen Garcia, Possible Education Secretary Pick, Under Scrutiny for Comments About Special-Needs Kids

Linda Jacobson

Community Colleges Expected to Have Their Moment in Biden White House. But in Parting Salvo, DeVos Calls Ideas Like Free Tuition ‘Insidious’

Greg Toppo

Analysis: From School Cafeteria ‘Salad Girl’ to U.S. Secretary of Education? The Rise of Former NEA President Lily Eskelsen García

Mike Antonucci

Rotherham: Who the Next Ed Secretary Will Be Is the Wrong Parlor Game. The Real Question — Which Party Will Get Its Act Together on Education First?

Andrew J. Rotherham

Analysis: NEA Wants an End to Tax Breaks for the Rich. With its Hundreds of Millions in Tax-Free Revenue, Those Pleas Ring Hollow

Mike Antonucci

Resh & Brown: With Morale at the Department of Education at a Dismal Low, the New Administration Faces a Daunting Task

William Resh & Heath Brown

As First Lady, Jill Biden to ‘Bring a Lot More Power’ to Helping Students in Military Families

Linda Jacobson

Incoming Madam Vice President Kamala Harris Forever Alters the Landscape for Girls

Stephanie J. Hull

Petrilli: Could Biden, Pelosi and McConnell Work Together? How Education Could Move Forward Under a Divided Federal Government

Michael J. Petrilli

How Black and Latino Youth Fueled Biden’s Win

Mark Keierleber

Democrats Achieve Long-Shot Supermajority in New York State Senate, Potentially Creating School Funding Boon

Zoë Kirsch

Analysis: From School Spending to a Possible Cabinet Post, What Does a Post-Trump World Look Like for Teachers Unions?

Mike Antonucci

What I Learned as a Poll Worker: Voting Matters, But Informed Voting Matters More

Mimi Woldeyohannes

Alaska Legend Don Young Wins 25th Term in Congress, Announces He’s COVID-Positive

Kevin Mahnken

Trump Mulls Parting Shot on Private Schools, but Experts Dismiss Possible Executive Order as ‘More Bluster for the Base’

Linda Jacobson

Democrats Fall Short of Majority in Arizona Legislature

Kevin Mahnken

With Defeat of California’s ‘Split Roll’ Tax, Advocates Wonder How to Increase Educational Equity

Linda Jacobson

Who Will Succeed DeVos? With Senate Control Up for Grabs, Democrats Hunt for ‘Unicorn’ to Lead Department Beset by Crisis

Kevin Mahnken

Incumbent Sen. Thom Tillis Victorious in NC After Democratic Challenger Concedes

Linda Jacobson

Makeup of Senate Means Biden Will Likely Lack Votes and ‘Big Buckets of Funding’ for Expansive Education Agenda

Linda Jacobson

A 2020 EDlection Cheat Sheet: Recapping the 48 Key Races, Winners and Campaign Issues That Could Reshape America’s Schools and Education Policy

Asher Lehrer-Small

Biden Wins Election, but with a Likely Divided Congress, One Ed Expert Warns, ‘There’s No Mandate Momentum Here’

Linda Jacobson

From School Board to the White House, Gwinnett County’s Vote Falls Under National Microscope

Linda Jacobson

Four New Members to D.C. State Board of Education Appear Set; Will be Advisors on School Reopenings to Student Literacy as Pandemic Continues

Taylor Swaak

Retired Band Teacher Makes History as Kansas’s First Transgender Legislator, Nation’s First Transgender Lawmaker of Indigenous Ancestry

Asher Lehrer-Small

After a Costly Campaign, Charter- and Union-Backed Candidates Each Win Seat on L.A. Unified School Board

Laura Fay

LA School Officials Cheer Passage of $7B Bond to Improve Facilities and Tech

Laura Fay

New Mexico Voters Approve $156M Bond for Higher Ed, Tribal Schools and Schools for the Visually and Hearing-Impaired

Zoë Kirsch

Maine Sen. Susan Collins Reelected, Bolstering Republican Fight to Retain Senate Control

Mark Keierleber

Arizona Teachers Took Their Case for Better Funding to Voters. A Tax on High Earners that Could Raise $1B Is Poised to Pass

Beth Hawkins

With Control of Senate Uncertain, Educators Look to Mitch McConnell, Who Calls Pandemic Relief Package ‘Job One’

Linda Jacobson

What We Know About the Youth Vote So Far: In 11 Key States, Early Data Suggest a Turnout Surge Among Young Americans

Mark Keierleber

Despite Major Push by Democrats, Texas House of Representatives, Always at Least a Little Purple, Stays Under Republican Control

Beth Hawkins

Retired Longtime Teacher and Principal Headed to Idaho State House After Strong GOP Victory

Asher Lehrer-Small

DeVos on the Campaign Trail: In the Closing Hours of the Presidential Race, How Trump’s Secretary of Education Became a Key Surrogate

Andrew Brownstein

Oakland Votes to Let Teens Cast Ballots in School Board Races, SF Defeats Similar Measure to Lower Voting Age

Kevin Mahnken

Colorado Votes Yes on Raising Taxes on Smoking and Vaping to Fund Education

Zoë Kirsch

Republican Incumbent Elsie Arntzen Wins Second Term as Montana State Superintendent

Laura Fay

Just 2 NOLA School Board Members Win Seats; With 5 Races Going to December Runoff, Balance of Power Remains Unknown

Beth Hawkins

School Choice Proponent Truitt Wins Top North Carolina Schools Post, Vows Local Control in Pandemic Response

Mark Keierleber

Fourth-Generation Educator Wins Florida State House Seat in Democratic Landslide

Asher Lehrer-Small

PreK 4 SA, San Antonio’s Popular City-Run Pre-K Program, Wins Another 8 Years

Bekah McNeel

Republican Rep. Greg Gianforte Wins Montana Governor’s Race on Record of Supporting School Choice; Public Education Advocates Worry About Support for Private Schools

Taylor Swaak

Reykdal Reelected to Washington’s Top Schools Post After GOP Challenger Attacked His Support for Controversial Sex Ed Rules

Mark Keierleber

North Carolina Legislature Remains in Republican Hands, Divided Government to Continue

Kevin Mahnken

With Georgia’s Special Election Moving to a January Runoff, Control of U.S. Senate Could Be Unknown for Weeks

Beth Hawkins

Republican Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox Wins Utah Governor’s Race, Calling for Boosted Education Funding in State with Lowest Per-Pupil Spending

Taylor Swaak

Washington State Sex Education Bill Passes With Strong Support

Zoë Kirsch

Florida Voters Choose to Amend State Constitution to Say ‘Only a Citizen’ Can Vote

Laura Fay

North Dakota State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler Sails to Third Term With 59 Percent of Vote

Patrick O’Donnell

Any Which Way You Fund It, Pre-K Scores Four Big Wins For 4-Year-Olds Across U.S.

Bekah McNeel

Show Me State Showing: Missouri Gov. Mike Parson Bests Democratic Challenger in Race Where School Reopenings Were Top Issue

Beth Hawkins

California Ban on Affirmative Action in College Admissions Likely to Stay in Place

Linda Jacobson

Former Educator Wins Seat in Kansas State Senate, Favors Local Control on Pandemic Issues Like Mask Mandates

Laura Fay

Progressive Black Lives Matter Activist Cori Bush Scores House Victory in Missouri

Mark Keierleber

Rhode Island Progressives Cheer the Defeat of Democratic House Speaker, Hoping It May Lead to More Education Funding

Asher Lehrer-Small

Cleveland Schools Tax Increase Winning Big Even in Pandemic Recession, Averting Massive Cuts

Patrick O’Donnell

Democrat Ricky Hurtado Unseats GOP Incumbent Stephen Ross in North Carolina State House Race

Zoë Kirsch

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper Unseats GOP Incumbent to Win Seat in U.S. Senate

Laura Fay

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper Wins Second Term in North Carolina, but Hopes of ‘Trifecta’ Fade

Kevin Mahnken

Former NYC School Principal Jamaal Bowman, Running Unopposed, Elected to Congress After Surprise Primary Win

Kevin Mahnken

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice Wins Second Term After Two Teacher Strikes and Charter School Bill In First Four Years

Patrick O’Donnell

Church, State and Choice: Wednesday Supreme Court Hearing Could Affect Debate on Public Funding of Religious Schools and Inclusion of Gay Students

Linda Jacobson

20 State and Local Ballot Measures That Could Help Shape Education, from Legalizing Marijuana to Allowing Race-Based Admissions

Linda Jacobson

2020 Liveblog — Education on the Ballot: Rolling Updates, Results & Analysis From 50 Key Votes That Could Reshape Education Policy

The 74

Stepman: The Education Case for Trump — He’s Shined a Spotlight on What Students Are Learning & Empowered Families Through School Choice

Inez Feltscher Stepman

Rotherham: This Has Been a Golden Era of Education Spending. Our Aging Population Is About to Put an End to It, Whatever Politicians Do

Andrew J. Rotherham

High-Stakes Day for Cleveland: District CEO Warns of Drastic Cuts If $23M Tax Hike Fails

Patrick O’Donnell

New York Democrats Could Win Big in the State Senate this Fall. Here’s What That Could Mean for Education Funding

Zoë Kirsch

Jeffries: From Title I to Aid for Students With Disabilities to Educational Opportunity to Free College, Biden Is the Clear Choice for Reformers

Shavar Jeffries

The 25 Former Educators Poised to Win State Legislative Seats on Election Day

Asher Lehrer-Small

Analysis: Newark Poll Suggests We Can Rebuild a Stronger Bipartisan Coalition to Support Charter Schools & Better Educational Opportunity

Kyle Rosenkrans

Analysis: Money Is No Object as the California Teachers Association Tries to Eke Out a Property Tax Ballot Victory

Mike Antonucci

Too Young to Vote, Eager to Make Sure You Can: Meet the High School Students Keeping America’s Polls Open

Beth Hawkins

The 74 Interview: Jeff Foster Taught Parkland Students the Power of Protests. Now He’s on a Mission to Inspire the Next Generation of Voters

Mark Keierleber

Analysis: How States Use Their Constitutional Authority over Education to Push Back Against Trump Assaults on Equity, Accountability

Kenneth K. Wong

A Referendum on Race in Board Election for Gwinnett County, One of the Nation’s Largest and Most Stable School Districts

Linda Jacobson

Botel: As a Former Trump Administration Education Official, I Saw the President Up Close. That’s Why We Need Joe Biden to Win the Election

Jason Botel

Chang: Public Education is Missing in Presidential Election Debates. It Must Again Become Part of the National Conversation

Tommy Chang

Q&A — 3 Minutes With Charter School Principal Stephen Lambert on Classical Education, Building Character and Saving Our Republic

Greg Richmond

In Alaska, an Education Activist is Trying to Unseat the House’s Longest-Serving Republican

Kevin Mahnken

Politics, Not Science, is Driving School Reopening Decisions to a ‘Really Dangerous’ Degree, Research Suggests

Kevin Mahnken

By Design, New Orleans School Board has Limited Power. November’s High-Stakes Election May Change That

Beth Hawkins

Analysis: For Decades, Homeschool Families Have Come Out for Republican Presidential Candidates. So Where Are ‘Homeschoolers for Trump’?

Heath Brown

Analysis: How Much NEA and AFT Are Spending on the 2020 Campaign, and Where They Are Spending It

Mike Antonucci

Pressing Through a Campaign Under COVID: Five Ways the American Federation of Teachers Has Changed How it Rallies Members

Patrick O’Donnell

Election to Bring Major Changes to Senate Education Committee, with Early Childhood Champion Patty Murray Likely to Lead if Democrats Prevail

Linda Jacobson

Yellow Rose, Blue Wave: What Democrats’ Statehouse Ascent Might Mean for Texas’s Singular K-12 Political Landscape

Beth Hawkins

Race, Trump & History:
Weeks Before Election, President Leaps Into Culture War Skirmish Over Teaching 1619 Project

Kevin Mahnken
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