Education policy and funding鈥攆rom common standards and college access to the prospect of 鈥渄oomsday鈥� budget cuts鈥攈ave been a steady theme in this year鈥檚 presidential campaign, even as more specific K-12 debates lighted the political landscape in various states.
And with the strategic balance in Congress in play, along with the makeup of 44 state legislatures and the fate of numerous education-related ballot measures, the Nov. 6 elections could have a lasting impact on the direction of precollegiate policy.
While the economy has commanded attention in the televised face-offs between President Barack Obama and GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, both candidates have emphasized their credentials and records on education, Mr. Obama through his initiatives over the past four years, Mr. Romney through his record as governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007. Their speeches and debates illuminated sharp differences on the federal role in education.
Spending Issue
President Barack Obama and GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney have shown sharp contrasts鈥攁nd some similarities鈥攐n various areas of education policy. See of where they stand, and what they鈥檝e said, on key issues.
View the candidate side-by-side.
Education spending, in particular, has emerged as an issue in the presidential race, with Mr. Obama contending that his rival would support big cuts to K-12, higher education, and early-learning programs.
鈥淐utting our education budget, that鈥檚 not a smart choice, that will not help us compete with China,鈥� Mr. Obama said in his Oct. 22 debate against Mr. Romney in Boca Raton, Fla., which was centered on foreign policy.
The president鈥檚 criticism stems mainly from a budget blueprint put forth by Mr. Romney鈥檚 running mate, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the chairman of the House Budget Committee. Mr. Romney has called the proposal 鈥渕arvelous,鈥� although he did not explicitly endorse every individual aspect of it. That plan would slash domestic discretionary spending鈥攖he broad category that includes education鈥攂y roughly 20 percent.
For his part, Mr. Romney said during the first debate, held in Denver on Oct. 3, that he would not cut education spending, but he did not offer specifics.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 have any plan to cut education funding and鈥攁nd grants that go to people going to college. ... I鈥檓 not planning on making changes there,鈥� Mr. Romney said.
Fiscal issues have also been a major theme of congressional races. Most political prognosticators see little chance that the U.S. House of Representatives will slip from GOP control, although the battle for the Senate is tighter, with Democrats now holding just 51 seats. The balance of power in Congress could help determine how lawmakers handle an issue expected to dominate Washington whoever wins next week: sequestration.
That term refers to a series of looming, across-the-board cuts to military and domestic programs鈥攊ncluding education鈥攊ntended to prompt a long-term deficit-reduction plan. The White House estimates that unless Congress heads off those cuts, education programs would be slashed by 8.2 percent starting early next year. Generally, most school districts would not feel the squeeze until the 2013-14 school year.
Education policy issues have gotten less play on the campaign trail. Mr. Romney has called for turning more than $25 billion in federal school funding over to parents to use at any school of their choice, including private schools. And Mr. Obama has touted his administration鈥檚 K-12 accomplishments, including encouraging states to raise their academic standards through the Race to the Top program and spurring efforts to turn around low-performing schools.
Key State Questions
Read about the issues and contests to watch Nov. 6 and the election-night stakes for state and federal education policy.
View the education voter鈥檚 guide.
At the state level, 44 states are holding elections for their legislatures this year. Republicans appear likely to keep their partisan edge in statehouses鈥攖hey now control 26, with the Democrats holding 15, eight split between parties, and one nonpartisan legislature. If the status quo holds, measures passed after the 2010 GOP electoral wave that curbed teachers鈥� collective bargaining and increased school choice could stay firmly in place or even expand in some states.
Among individual states, ballot measures are grabbing much of the attention.
Dueling initiatives in California seek to dramatically increase state revenue for public schools, both through income-tax increases, while a separate initiative would prohibit unions from using payroll deductions for political purposes, an idea that has roiled teachers鈥� unions.
Idaho residents will decide whether to uphold or repeal three laws passed in 2011 that, respectively, institute teacher merit pay, limit collective bargaining, and require more technology in schools.
And Washington state voters will decide whether to open the door to charter schools in that state, one of nine that currently don鈥檛 allow them.
This year鈥檚 ballots also include 11 gubernatorial contests, four elections for state schools chiefs, and voting for 10 state school boards, along with an advisory public education commission in New Mexico.
