Voters Deliver Significant Wins for Public Education in 2024 Election
Despite the Democratic Party’s overall poor performance in the 2024 general election, voters across ideological lines united to block Republican-led efforts to privatize and politicize public schools. Most of these victories occurred in red states that supported President-elect Donald Trump, who has advocated for eliminating the U.S. Department of Education, privatizing education, and defunding schools with “liberal” curriculums.
School voucher programs, which allocate taxpayer funds for private school tuition, faced significant setbacks. These programs, championed by Trump and likely to be a focus in his administration, were widely rejected by voters.
“School vouchers continue to fail at the ballot box,” said Joshua Cowen, a senior fellow at the Education Law Center. Colorado, Nebraska, and Kentucky voters all rejected voucher schemes, emphasizing public opposition.
In Nebraska, voters dismissed a proposal allocating $10 million annually for “education scholarships,” effectively vouchers. This followed years of legislative maneuvers to bypass voter input. According to Leigh Dingerson of In the Public Interest, lawmakers attempted to block a public vote by reintroducing revised voucher bills. However, public school advocates ensured voters had their say, leading to a decisive rejection of vouchers.
Kentucky saw another public education victory, with 65% of voters opposing a constitutional amendment that would allow tax dollars to fund private and charter schools. Past efforts to implement similar measures were struck down by courts, prompting voucher proponents to propose this amendment. Their campaign falsely suggested the amendment would increase teacher pay, a claim dismissed by critics like Dingerson. Despite record spending by privatization advocates, voters overwhelmingly rejected the measure.
In Colorado, voters struck down a constitutional amendment granting K-12 students the “right to school choice,” which included privatization. Advocates of the amendment used deceptive tactics, such as falsely claiming support from public education leaders. Dingerson noted voters saw through these efforts, leading to the amendment’s defeat.
In Houston, Texas, voters opposed a $4.4 billion school bond referendum, not as a rejection of funding public education but as a protest against a state takeover of Houston schools. Critics argue the takeover aims to privatize the district, further eroding public trust. The “No Trust, No Bond” campaign highlighted community resistance to privatization and a demand for local control.
In North Carolina, while vouchers weren’t on the ballot, the race for the state’s top education official became a focal point. Republican candidate Michele Morrow, known for her extreme views on public education, was defeated by Maurice “Mo” Green, an experienced educator and former superintendent.
Florida voters also rejected a proposal to require school board candidates to declare party affiliations. This attempt to politicize public schools, backed by groups like Moms for Liberty, was soundly defeated, signaling resistance to making schools ideological battlegrounds.
Public Education Advocates Face National Challenges
These victories highlight voter support for public schools, yet contradictions persist. In Kentucky, for example, the same electorate that rejected vouchers overwhelmingly supported Trump. All 120 counties opposed the voucher amendment, even in rural areas that strongly backed the former president.
Despite this opposition, Trump is expected to prioritize a federal voucher program and reduce federal support for public education during his presidency. These policy goals conflict with the preferences of many Republican voters, creating potential challenges for GOP lawmakers.
Democrats, however, have been hesitant to capitalize on these contradictions. In Colorado, Democratic Governor Jared Polis, a charter school founder, stayed neutral on the state’s school choice amendment, reflecting broader reluctance within the party to confront privatization policies.
Kevin Welner of the National Education Policy Center expressed frustration with the disconnect between Republican lawmakers and their constituents. “Voters have always rejected voucher initiatives,” Welner said, citing research that shows vouchers are academically harmful. He criticized party leaders and donors for pushing unpopular policies, even targeting rural Republican legislators who oppose vouchers.
For public education supporters, these election results underscore the importance of continued advocacy to resist privatization efforts and hold elected officials accountable to their constituents.