This week, Republicans made gains in off-year elections. Like in 2014, there are signs school choice may have helped the GOP make inroads with new groups of voters. See, for example, this National Journal analysis of Matt Bevin’s gubernatorial win in Kentucky.
One of the most interesting events I attended on the Kentucky campaign trail last week was at a west Louisville soup kitchen, where Bevin and Hampton campaigned for school choice, accompanied by black pastors who argued that Democrats in the state took the black community for granted. “Vote your values, not your party!” Bevin inveighed. He noted that it was shameful that Democrats had never elected a minority officeholder in state history, and underscored his own commitment to diversity. Bevin’s message was amplified by Americans for Prosperity, which aired two powerful ads in the Louisville market arguing that Conway was “forcing kids into failing schools” because of his opposition to public funds going to charter schools. An Americans for Prosperity spokesman said their internal polling in Kentucky showed education was the second most-important issue for voters, behind jobs.
Bevin has since reaffirmed his school choice agenda. Choice proponents also prevailed in Mississippi. Union-backed, anti-choice candidates did win some local elections, including in Philadelphia and some high-profile, ideologically tinged races in suburban Colorado.
Overall, this week’s results once again suggest the intransigence on school choice in some quarters of the Democratic Party establishment (a relatively recent phenomenon) could create a political liability. In some cities, like Denver, where Democrats and their supporters lined up behind charter schools and other reforms, they won.
Meanwhile…
More NAEP bright spots: Arizona and Florida charter schools.
The debate over charter schools and discipline policies continues, with more nuance.
D.C.’s Opportunity Scholarship Program faces better-than-expected prospects in the U.S. Senate. Parents testify on the program’s behalf.
The nation’s capital looks to increase charter school options for military families.
Testing, school accountability, and short-term thinking.
School voucher legislation may be revived in Tennessee.
A legal battle brews over a rural private school choice program in New Hampshire.
A teacher describes her decision to work at a charter school.
Tweet of the week
According to NAEP TUDA. @bellwethered @rickhess99 @MichaelPetrilli @dropoutnation @educationgadfly @EducationNext pic.twitter.com/NfEgTlfaF0
— Andy Smarick (@smarick) November 6, 2015
Quote of the week
These are college tuitions that these politicians are paying. You’re limiting my choice, and you’re giving me crap about $6,000?
—Parent Gary Jones calls out politicians who oppose the DC voucher program, while sending their own children to private schools.
Call us on our hypocrisy, or send other feedback, tips and links to tpillow[at]sufs[dot]org.
