Here’s how school board decisions became cultural flashpoints, why your local election vote can make a big difference and how to get ready for Election Day fastIf you care about school policies on transgender children, which books are available in school libraries and what students learn about American history, voting in your local school board election can help your voice be heard.
Ahead of Election Day in Virginia on Tuesday, Nov. 7, here's how school board decisions became cultural flashpoints in recent years, why your local election vote can make a big difference and how to get up to speed on candidates fast.It’s been a tumultuous few years for many school boards, with packed rooms of parents waiting hours for their chance to say what should and shouldn’t happen in schools.
High-profile policy groups such as the right-wing organization Moms for Liberty, launched in Florida in 2021, began working to get school board candidates elected. Researchers are still working to understand the impact of these groups, Valant said.
To have a say in what happens, it’s crucial to get educated about candidates and vote, said Amir Badat, who manages voter education efforts for the Legal Defense Fund.