Protecting Public Education

The Danger of Politicizing Local School Boards

Keeping Local Education Nonpartisan and Community-Focused

For decades, school boards have empowered local communities to shape public education based on the needs of their students. Most of these elections have remained nonpartisan, fostering collaboration and trust to prioritize student achievement over political agendas. However, recent efforts by groups like the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the Civics Alliance threaten to upend this tradition. Their School Board Election Date Act proposes moving school board elections to even-numbered years on the same day as the general election. Alongside this, the Civics Alliance’s model legislation mandates listing school board candidates’ party affiliations on the ballot, with ALEC hedging slightly by including the phrase “if applicable.”

This shift could fundamentally transform local school board elections, politicizing them and diminishing their focus on community needs. At stake is not just the character of school board elections but the integrity of public education itself. This legislation, coupled with broader efforts by these organizations, signals a coordinated push to centralize partisan influence in education governance.

You Might Recognize the Civics Alliance

The Civics Alliance is already known for its controversial American Birthright Social Studies Standards, a curriculum framework prioritizing Western exceptionalism while sidelining diverse perspectives and critical thinking. These standards were implemented in the Woodland Park School District, sparking backlash for their ideological bias. A similar effort to introduce them in the Garfield RE-2 School District was met with community resistance and the successful recall of the school board member that proposed the introduction.

But the Civics Alliance isn’t stopping with curricula. Alongside ALEC, it is now pushing model legislation like the School Board Election Date Act to reshape the governance of school boards. By requiring that school board elections align with general elections in even-numbered years and mandating the inclusion of candidates’ party affiliations on ballots, these proposals aim to inject partisan dynamics into historically nonpartisan contests. Together, these efforts represent a systemic attempt to turn public schools into instruments of a singular political ideology.

The Dangers of Mandating Partisan Affiliations

School boards have long operated as nonpartisan bodies, allowing candidates to be evaluated on their policies and vision for education rather than political party. Mandating partisan affiliations on school board ballots risks transforming these elections into extensions of national political battles, with local issues taking a backseat.

A significant concern is that many voters default to selecting candidates based on party affiliation rather than their individual platforms, policies, or qualifications. In areas like El Paso County, Colorado, a Republican stronghold, this could result in overwhelmingly partisan boards, regardless of candidates’ abilities or the diverse needs of the community. Such boards would likely prioritize party-aligned agendas over pragmatic solutions, polarizing local education systems further and alienating community members who feel unrepresented.

The Problem with General Election Timing

Moving school board elections to general election days in even-numbered years introduces another layer of risk. These elections would be swept into the highly charged environment of national and state campaigns, where contentious political rhetoric dominates the discourse. Local concerns — such as teacher shortages, funding needs, and curriculum decisions — would be drowned out by debates over national partisan issues.

Voters who come to the polls primarily focused on choosing a president, senator, or governor may pay little attention to school board candidates further down the ballot. This risks reducing school board elections to afterthoughts, with decisions made based on party affiliation rather than a candidate’s commitment to serving local schools.

Part of a Broader Conservative Agenda

The School Board Election Date Act aligns with broader conservative strategies, including the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, which seeks to consolidate conservative influence across governance. By politicizing school boards, these efforts aim to control curricula, restrict diverse perspectives, and enforce cultural conformity in public schools.

This agenda is not about improving education — it’s about ideological dominance. Public schools, which should be places of inclusion and critical thinking, risk becoming instruments of political indoctrination, with students and educators caught in the crossfire.

Consequences for Public Education

The impact of these changes could be devastating:

1. Ideological Curricula: Politicized boards may adopt curricula like the American Birthright Social Studies Standards, reflecting partisan agendas rather than educational best practices.
2. Erosion of Community Input: National partisan debates will drown out the voices of parents, teachers, and students, undermining local control.
3. Increased Polarization: School boards will become battlegrounds for ideological conflict, distracting from their mission to support student success.
4. Uninformed Voting Patterns: Moving elections to general election cycles could lead to voters prioritizing partisan affiliation over local education issues.

Call to Action: Defend Local Education from Politicization

The stakes couldn’t be higher. The School Board Election Date Act and the broader agenda it represents threaten to undermine the foundations of public education and local democracy. Here’s what you can do:

1. Contact Your Local Representatives: Urge them to oppose legislation that mandates partisanship or ties school board elections to general election cycles.
2. Spread Awareness: Talk to friends and neighbors about the dangers of politicizing school board elections. Use social media to amplify concerns and share resources.
3. Support Advocacy Groups: Organizations defending public education, like the Network for Public Education, Advocates for Public Education Policy and local parent-teacher groups, need your help to counter these systemic threats.
4. Stay Informed and Get Involved: Attend school board meetings, follow legislative developments, and participate in public forums to voice your opposition.

Education for Communities, Not Partisan Agendas

The School Board Election Date Act is part of a coordinated effort to reshape public education for political gain. By mandating partisan affiliations on ballots and aligning elections with general election cycles, this legislation would erode local control, undermine community trust, and transform schools into battlegrounds for ideological conflict.

But this outcome is not inevitable. By raising our voices, advocating for nonpartisan governance, and protecting the integrity of school boards, we can ensure that public education remains a pillar of democracy. Let’s keep school boards focused on what truly matters: the success and well-being of students, not the interests of political factions.