Public Education Policy and Politics: A Clear Connection

Public education policy and politics are inextricably linked. Sad fact or great opportunity? We think it is a great opportunity to influence elected officials for public education's benefit and improvement, for our students and for education employees.

Elected officials, from school boards and state agencies to the State House and the White House, make decisions that unmistakably affect public education. Through both policy and law, elected officials make decisions about education funding, preschool-higher education; academic standards, curriculum, assessments; curriculum; employee salaries, benefits, retirement; school safety, class size, school facilities; collective bargaining, employee evaluation and due process; and even more.

It is nearly impossible for elected officials to convene without making a decision that affects public education. That is why our Association understands the link between public education policy and politics – and why our members are involved in politics, understand political issues, and work to protect and advance public education and education employees' issues in the political arena. It is why our members work in school board elections and local mill levy and bond elections. It's why our Association compares candidates on public education issues and recommends, to our members, the candidates who measure up on those public education issues. And it's why we are involved in ballot initiative and referenda campaigns: ballot issues that help public education and those that have the potential to harm public education.

We believe it is our Association’s job to do all this as advocates for public education and education employees.