Quite the Win for American Democracy

 I, along with millions of other Americans, have been working hard this election cycle. Yesterday, I was a roving poll watcher where I was checking to see if there were any issues like tech, intimidation, handicapped access, etc at polling places. At sites in largely Latino areas, I circled a two-block area to look for ICE officers. I visited 19 sites and halfway through I wondered if I was nuts. (I found no issues anywhere except for a long line at one site at lunchtime.) But I continued on. 

I spent more money this election cycle than I have ever spent in my life. It was money well-spent.

Know who understood the assignment? Latino voters and, as usual, Black voters. 

Yes, I know that Cheeto is still president but a bit defanged, no? More money for a war no one wants? Nope. A bigger magnifying glass on spending at the Pentagon or for "renovations" Yup. Perhaps more thoughts about AI and how it affects Americans especially children? Yup.

And any thoughts that Justice Alito or Justice Thomas had about retirement might have to be put on hold because Trump will not get any conservative lunatic on SCOTUS with this Senate. 

In Arizona, we finally have a Dem Superintendent of Public Instruction and guess what? She's an educator. This state needs a better person for public education because it is scraping near the bottom. Dems took all of the senior leadership in Arizona which means it's pretty much bluish purple now. 

One interesting item of note: four states had proposals on the topic of transgendered athletes in public schools. Those are Arizona, Washington, Colorado, and Nebraska. Colorado and Washington measures are both new for those states while Arizona and Nebraska are strengthening ones they already have. 

Colorado's would generally have sex-based participation requirements for K-12 AND college level. Colorado's has an exemption if there is no female team for the sport that the transgendered girl wants to play on, then she can be on the boys team. This one is still too close to call. 

Washington's is passing handily at this point. I again say okay but this particular proposition is vague and I suspect will go to court because of that.

Interestingly, unlike the Washington one, Colorao's doesn't require a doctor's note or exam to verify biological sex. Schools would have to establish their own policies. How that can work well is a mystery to me. 

Arizona's expands an existing law to include no transgendered student athletes on teams that are not their birth gender. This one is also passing easily.

Nebraska already has a law against transgendered athletes participating in gendered sports that are not their birth gender. Their measure would enshrine that law into their state constitution. It is passing by a huge majority. 

Also from this election, more public education changes that may come. This from Chalkbeat:

Democrats took control of the U.S. Senate and House, and they won governors’ races in Iowa, Texas, Ohio, and Georgia, all previously Republican strongholds. In Iowa and Texas in particular, Democratic candidates made inroads by criticizing the expansion of universal voucher programs that are at the center of Republicans’ education policy agenda, coupled with promises to bolster spending on public schools.

“The days of treating our public schools like they are for sale are over,” said Texas Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa in a victory speech Tuesday night, to jubilant cheers from the crowd. Hinojosa sailed to a stunning victory over Republican incumbent Greg Abbott, who has served as Texas’ governor since 2015. She also criticized GOP state leaders for taking control of major school districts including Houston and Fort Worth. Hinojosa in her victory speech said she will fire the state schools chief who has led those takeovers. 

Oregon was a rare race where student achievement featured prominently. Parents and taxpayers have increasingly demanded better educational outcomes from public schools, blaming some of the state’s academic struggles on inadequate policymaking by Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek. In early returns, Kotek led Republican challenger Christine Drazan. 

Congressional Democrats have pledged to do more to protect the Education Department and hold Education Secretary Linda McMahon responsible for deep cuts to the agency. 

But it’s not clear where education ultimately will rank in the priorities of newly elected leaders whose agendas also include reining in healthcare costs and gas prices and fighting the Trump administration on multiple fronts.

Top of mind for many education advocates is reversing budget cuts and ensuring money allocated by Congress actually makes it to schools, universities, and researchers.

I note that these massive changes in Congressional leadership includes higher ed issues and not just K-12 public education.