How to vote in the May 7 city, school board elections in North Texas Were here to please God.. Some PACs like Southlake Families in North Texas have said critical race theory is being taught in schools. Supreme Court Strikes Down Use of Race in College Admissions Laws and Procedures Pertaining to Election Administrators Were not here on this Earth to please man, Leigh Wambsganss, Patriot Mobile Actions leader, said in a radio interview last year celebrating the election victories and policy changes. Voters across Texas on Saturday elected a bevy of conservative Texas school board candidates, emboldening state Republicans who are increasingly getting involved in nonpartisan local elections. Click the links below to view analyses by state: The 2023 school board primary and general election dates in the 10 states included in this report are shown below. I want my kids taught how to think, not what to think, with age-appropriate curriculum, he said online. But Texas Republicans are following a national playbook of feeding off conservative parents' fears that critical race theory is being taught in public schools and children are being exposed to obscene sexual content. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[7][8]. He denounced the GOP crusade against critical race theory as "classroom censorship," saying Republicans are "trying to disrupt democracy and disrupt the way history is taught.". Please click through to each school district's page for more information. Kinsey also received a donation from conservative megadonor Tim Dunn and large donations from the Texas Public Charter Schools Associations political fundraising arm, Charter Schools Now. Patriot Mobiles focus on injecting religion into local politics and recent decisions by members of the Grapevine-Colleyville school board to restrict classroom content and publicly attack teachers have turned some conservative Christian voters against the group. The table below contains links to school board elections covered by Ballotpedia in 2022 in this state. This includes all school districts in the 100 largest cities by population and the 200 largest school districts by student enrollment. Robison suspects that the conservative candidates who won these school board races will lobby in Austin for ideological issues such as parental rights and school vouchers. Machines used to mark and read ballots cannot connect to the internet to protect against hacking. Before the elections, the State Board of Education decided to delay updating the statewide social studies curriculum standards until at least 2025. Patrick also wants the Texas Legislature next year to pass a law that mirrors Floridas Dont Say Gay Bill, which is a conservative push to limit classroom discussions about LGBTQ people. While Lake Travis Families hasnt named CRT as an issue, they instead stand against what they loosely call political indoctrination.. But this year, how Texas schools operate has been a particularly hot topic. "Our democracy's on the line, and it starts at our most local level.". Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Instances of alleged fraud have also in some cases turned out to be mistakes by elections administrators or voters, few discrepancies between manual and electronic counts. Several studies, reports and courts have found that voter fraud is relatively rare, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan law and policy institute. I hate the narrative that they push that they are the ones that are bestowed or chosen by God to fix education, said Harris, a high school social studies teacher whos in a three-way race against a Patriot Mobile-backed candidate and a third contender. I give them credit for manufacturing these issues to distract from the real ones and the big ones that are facing us.. At that point, candidates must register with the Colorado Secretary of States office, which handles financial disclosure rules for elections. The board is responsible for dictating what Texas 5.5 million students are required to learn in the states public schools. Ballotpedia's coverage included all school districts in the 100 largest cities by population and the 200 largest school districts by student enrollment across the country. The Texas GOP paraded the school board win as a victory for the party. Voting machines and software are certified by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and the Texas Secretary of State. Jared Polis can be described as a supporter of public school choice. Show us with your support. But how are school boards elected, and who can vote in school board elections? CFBISD Board of Trustees Election - May 4, 2024 First Day to File for a Place on the General Election Ballot - Wednesday, January 17, 2024 Last Day to File for a Place on the General Election Ballot - Friday, February 16, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Last Day to Register to Vote - Thursday, April 4, 2024 First Day of Early Voting - Monday, April 22, 2024 Christian Alvarado, a Lake Travis ISD parent and one of the PACs founders, said in a Facebook post on Feb. 3 that parents should be making choices for their kids and that he does not believe in the modern progressivism that claims my kids are oppressed because they are Hispanic.. Not everyone in this country, not everyone in the state, not everyone in the district is Christian, said Teddy, who asked to be identified only by their first name because theyve been bullied at school and feared online harassment. But not everyone is buying the PACs mission. Do you value our journalism? Editor's note: Some school districts choose to cancel the primary election, or both the primary and general election, if the number of candidates who filed does not meet a certain threshold. Texas voted Republican in all six presidential elections between 2000 and 2020. An information session where residents considering candidacy can ask questions of sitting board members is planned for August, shortly after election packets become available. Before 2020, the biggest issue grabbing parents attention was the occasional personnel matter. "We've got to take an aggressive approach in these races," said Odus Evbagharu, chair of the Harris County Democratic Party. An application for place on the ballot (PDF) must be filed with the secretary of the school district board. Examples of endorsers whose endorsements might be considered descriptive include political parties, issue-based organizations with clear policy stances, unions, current or former elected officials, and current or former party officers. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. But behind the scenes, on social media and inside churches, the issue has been at the forefront. Who Can Vote in School Board Elections? Danielle Villasana and Emil T. Lippe for NBC News. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. Those results are usually posted online shortly after polls close at 7 p.m. on Election Day. Disclosure: Texas Association of School Boards has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Last week at Gateway Church, the names of Patriot Mobile-backed school board candidates flashed on giant screens above the pulpit as pastor Morris encouraged his congregation to pray for fellow Christians running for office and to vote their faith. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Harris leaves Grapevine Library with his son after a day of early voting. The new state education board will have a large influence over potential changes to the social studies curriculum in the states more than 8,000 public schools. Wambsganss, the executive director of Patriot Mobile Action, did not respond to a message requesting an interview. What was at stake? Signatures from 50 registered voters are required to secure a place on the ballot, but according to Lauralee Ehlers, executive assistant to the superintendent and Board of Education and the primary election official within the district, more are suggested as some signatures might not be viable. The most recent May elections saw an average of 2.04 candidates per . In recent months, school boards have gained new attention in Texas and nationwide amid raging debates over pandemic rules. There are 1,022 school districts in the Lonestar State and 6,994 elected board members. [4], Texas schools reported a graduation rate of 88 percent during the 2012-2013 school year, highest among its neighboring states. The state Republican Party announced Monday it had formed a new Local Government Committee to work with county parties on backing candidates in nonpartisan local elections, where issues like mask mandates and the teaching of what some conservatives call critical race theory have become flashpoints. While candidates must reside within their district to appear on the ballot, their seats are voted on at large, meaning any registered voter can cast a vote for each of the four available seats. No. This is 36% of all regular school board elections this year and includes comprehensive coverage in ten states: Colorado Kansas Minnesota Ohio Oklahoma Harris, a Christian, said he doesn't support "pushing my religion" in public schools, "especially when you have people that are Muslim or Hindu or any other religion.". Texas' traditionally sleepy school board races are suddenly attracting attention and money. It is not taught in elementary or secondary schools in Texas. In the meantime, school boards are continuing to garner statewide GOP attention. The county had 10 candidates win their races with the backing of the conservative Patriot Mobile Action PAC, which poured half a million dollars into the races. Students line up for lunch at Austins Linder Elementary School in January. I do not think they are serving an agenda that serves the kids in our school district.. Ballotpedia's 2023 school board election coverage by state In 2023, Ballotpedia is covering regular elections for approximately 8,750 school board seats in 3,211 school districts across 28 states. David Brockman, a scholar of religion at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy, said these efforts are rooted in Christian nationalism the belief that America was founded as an explicitly Christian nation and that Christians are called on to re-establish God as the head of government and society. States across the country are contemplating legislation that would give parents public funds to send their children to private religious schools. Texas school board elections tend to see more candidates file per seat in odd-numbered years than in even-numbered years. [1], The following table shows the graduation rates and average composite ACT and SAT scores for Texas and surrounding states during the 2012-2013 school year. The issues that schools have been facing over the past two years have nothing to do with what the [Republican] party is focused on, Bernal said. Students who have graduated, transferred to another school, died, moved to another country, or who are out of school due to illness are not considered dropouts. Voting in Texas: What you need to know | The Texas Tribune E-mail: carley.allensworth@ballotpedia.org. Pickren beat Democrat Dan Hochman, whom Robinson endorsed. Click on the tabs below for links to view all local elections covered by county. For every recorded endorsement, Ballotpedia staff prepare a brief summary of the endorser. Theres a slate of school board candidates backed by a far-right Christian cellphone company thats affiliated with Cruz and Barton. Paper ballots are also stored in locked boxes and must be preserved for at least 22 months after an election. And many of you see what Satan has been trying to do even in our school systems.. School board elections, 2021 - Ballotpedia We still have to be wary of the underlying agenda because ultimately that agenda could cause divisiveness and could keep us from focusing on other educational issues, she said. Those packets include petitions that must be circulated among registered voters within the school districts limits, mainly centered in Loveland and southern Fort Collins but also pockets of Boulder and Weld counties. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Usually, voters pay little attention to races for the body that sets the states public school curriculum. Conservatives use the term broadly to describe what they see as indoctrination: attempts by a school to offer a more comprehensive look at American history. The demonstration was organized by Unified Parents of Frisco, formed in response to the pandemic and its consequences on their childrens lives and education. But, in Central Texas at least, some Democrats wont stay silent. To read more about how we gather and analyze endorsements, click here. "That's really been the match that totally" ignited this, said Rolando Garcia, a member of the State Republican Executive Committee who chairs the new group. In response to that stance, a conservative voter recently accused Phoenix on social media of supporting gay porn in our school libraries and counselors convincing our kids to change genders. Sergio Harris, left, a school board candidate for the Grapevine-Colleyville school district, is running in Saturday's election against a candidate backed by a far-right, Christian cellphone company. But that hasnt stopped conservative candidates from keeping an anti-CRT plank on their state education board campaign literature and winning. If possible, Ballotpedia archives every web source used to identify an endorsement. The idea of pushing Christianity into these places, that is simply oppressive.. The pandemics impacts on school closings and mask mandates as well as a new law restricting how students should learn about Americas history of racism have made the state board races much more visible.