On December 9 at 3:00 PM EST, the Brown Center on Education Policy will host a webinar to discuss the growing hostility of education politics in America. To learn more, we asked education expert Jon Valant a few questions ahead of the event.
What are some of the most divisive issues that you see in the education realm today in America?
Unfortunately, it’s a long and growing list. I’d say the issues fall into a few categories. First, there are issues directly connected to COVID. That includes mask mandates, vaccine mandates, and longer-running arguments over when schools should open in person. Second, there are issues rooted in today’s culture war battles. That includes fights over critical race theory and transgender students’ rights. Third, there are more familiar education policy issues that tend to resurface from time to time. That includes desegregation and gifted education (or “detracking”).
It’s important to note that the most divisive issues aren’t always the most consequential ones. For example, while critical race theory is attracting a lot of attention, education policymakers are grappling with big, hard questions about how to mitigate the negative effects of COVID disruptions, deal with staffing shortages, and allocate newly available federal funds.
Why have school boards become such political hotspots during the COVID era?
It’s a few factors coming together. This has been a frustrating, exhausting stretch for parents. School boards are responsible for thorny issues like school closures, so they’re a natural target for parents’ frustration. On top of that, local school boards are unusually accessible governing bodies, and a lot of people—parents and others—are taking the opportunity to express their anger, in person, toward public officials. For the majority who aren’t causing scenes in school board meetings—and worry about what’s happening—there’s something important to do: vote. Local school board elections tend to have very low turnout, and many high-impact races come down to just a few votes.
How big of a factor do you think education will be in the 2022 elections?
Education was a key issue in the Virginia gubernatorial race, which has people wondering if we’ll see repeats of that race next year. If Democrats learn from that race, I don’t think we will. Terry McAuliffe was negligent handling education issues. He came across as tone-deaf, dismissive of parents, and uninterested in (or incapable of) framing those issues in ways that draw voters to Democrats. If Democrats engage on education—and do so thoughtfully—they’ll find that it’s a winning issue. If they don’t engage—or do so clumsily—they’ll see topics like gifted education and how schools teach history and race bite them again in 2022.
