69传媒

Federal

In Massachusetts, Voters Shun Expansion of Charters

By Arianna Prothero 鈥 November 15, 2016 3 min read
A Massachusetts ballot measure that would have allowed more charter schools to open was defeated, despite an expensive campaign to win voter approval.
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

Massachusetts will keep its status as one of the more restrictive states when it comes to the expansion of charter schools after voters last week solidly rejected a bid to raise the cap on the number of charters allowed to open.

Meanwhile, in Georgia, voters soundly defeated a ballot measure that sought to change the state鈥檚 constitution to allow for the creation of a special district to take over low-performing schools.

In both cases, voters overwhelmingly disagreed with their Republican governors. In Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker was a strong proponent of the charter school expansion, while in Georgia, Gov. Nathan Deal campaigned for the statewide district in personal terms, calling it a 鈥渕oral鈥 duty to act on behalf of students in low-performing schools.

Both ballot measures attracted big money and national attention, but particularly so in Massachusetts, where teachers鈥 union leaders are claiming a major victory for grassroots organizing.

The ballot question to expand charters in Massachusetts brought a bright national spotlight as it sought to allow the state to approve 12 new charter schools each year.

Millions of dollars poured in from out-of-state organizations and donors to sway voters on the issue, while political heavyweights such as U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and billionaire and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg weighed in on the initiative.

The race was close up until the end, but on Election Day, voters swung decisively toward 鈥渘o鈥 on Question 2. Sixty-two percent cast their ballots to block the measure, while 38 percent voted in favor, according to the Associated Press.

Those votes did not come cheap. Campaigns for and against Question 2 together raised nearly $42 million, with groups that favored the measure bringing in more than $26 million, according to the most recent campaign finance records.

Boots on the Ground

But the bigger war chest didn鈥檛 pay off for charter advocates.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a really big win for grassroots organizing,鈥 said Barbara Madeloni, the president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, which led the effort against the ballot question. 鈥淲e had a ground game, we had conversations, we had students talking to voters, we had educators knocking on doors. And when we knocked on those doors and said 鈥業鈥檓 an educator and I want to talk about Question 2,鈥 the welcome was profound.鈥

BRIC ARCHIVE

Marc Kenen, the executive director of the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association, acknowledged it was hard for charter advocates to match the unions鈥 on-the-ground presence.

鈥淲e鈥檙e so far from having the numbers in our schools necessary to build a strong, statewide grassroots efforts that can match the teachers鈥 unions,鈥 said Kenen.

The statewide cap on charter schools is set at 120 campuses under current law鈥攚hich is a fairly restrictive cap compared to many other states鈥. Even though Massachusetts hasn鈥檛 hit that ceiling of 120 schools yet, some areas鈥攕uch as Boston鈥攈ave reached separate, regional limits.

Despite the defeat of Question 2 and other unsuccessful efforts to expand charters, Kenen said his group鈥檚 internal polling showed that people believe charters were doing a good job educating students.

鈥淚 think the debate got framed as a false choice between charters and districts,鈥 he said. 鈥淰oters thought they had to choose between charter schools and district schools, and faced with that choice, they didn鈥檛 want to do harm to the existing system.鈥

Although elated by the outcome, music teacher and MTA member Deborah Gesualdo said she鈥檚 trying to practice what she鈥檚 telling her students about how to conduct themselves after a contentious election.

鈥淥ne thing that I鈥檝e reminded myself along the way is that the parents that were involved on the Yes on 2 side, we need to be really respectful of them,鈥 said Gesaldo, who teaches at Linden STEAM Academy, a district school in Malden, Mass. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 believe in gloating when your side prevails. Those parents obviously had some concerns, and I鈥檓 hoping we can address those.鈥

Formidable Ga. Opposition

In Georgia, where 60 percent of voters cast their ballots against the measure to set up a statewide turnaround district, defeat seemed likely based on recent polling.

The measure drew formidable opposition, including an unlikely coalition of teachers鈥 unions, school boards, district administrators, the state PTA, and some conservative Republicans. The governor, the measure鈥檚 chief proponent, had allies that included Democrats and Republicans, as well as national education reform groups such as 50CAN.

More than $7 million had been raised through early November by both sides. Had it been approved, the so-called Opportunity School District would have been modeled in part on Louisiana鈥檚 Recovery School District and Tennessee鈥檚 Achievement School District.

Coverage of policy, government and politics, and systems leadership is supported in part a grant from by the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, at . Education Week retains sole editorial control over the content of this coverage.
A version of this article appeared in the November 16, 2016 edition of Education Week as In Mass., Voters Shun More Charter 69传媒

Events

School & District Management Webinar Crafting Outcomes-Based Contracts That Work for Everyone
Discover the power of outcomes-based contracts and how they can drive student achievement.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School & District Management Webinar
Harnessing AI to Address Chronic Absenteeism in 69传媒
Learn how AI can help your district improve student attendance and boost academic outcomes.
Content provided by 
School & District Management Webinar EdMarketer Quick Hit: What鈥檚 Trending among K-12 Leaders?
What issues are keeping K-12 leaders up at night? Join us for EdMarketer Quick Hit: What鈥檚 Trending among K-12 Leaders?

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide 鈥 elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

Federal What a National School Choice Program Under President Trump Might Look Like
School choice advocates鈥攁nd detractors鈥攕ee a second Trump term as the biggest opportunity in decades for choice at the federal level.
8 min read
President Donald Trump listens during a "National Dialogue on Safely Reopening America's 69传媒," event in the East Room of the White House, on July 7, 2020, in Washington.
President Donald Trump listens during a "National Dialogue on Safely Reopening America's 69传媒," event in the East Room of the White House on July 7, 2020, in Washington. He returns to power with more momentum than ever behind policies that allow public dollars to pay for private school education.
Alex Brandon/AP
Federal Trump's Education Secretary Pick Is Linda McMahon, Former WWE CEO
McMahon led the Small Business Administration in Trump's first term and is co-chair of the president-elect's transition team.
6 min read
Small Business Administration Administrator Linda McMahon speaks during a news conference with President Donald Trump in Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., Friday, March 29, 2019.
Then-SBA Administrator Linda McMahon speaks during a news conference with President Donald Trump at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., Friday, March 29, 2019. Trump has tapped McMahon to serve as education secretary in his second term.
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
Federal What Could RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary Mean for School Vaccine Requirements?
The vaccine skeptic in line to lead the mammoth federal agency could influence schools' vaccine rules, even though they're set by states.
6 min read
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign event, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 in Walker, Mich.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., speaks before President-elect Donald Trump at a campaign event on Sept. 27, 2024 in Walker, Mich. Trump has selected Kennedy to serve as secretary of health and human services in his second term.
Carlos Osorio/AP
Federal Can Trump Force 69传媒 to Change Their Curricula?
Trump's bid to take money from schools that teach "critical race theory" or pass policies for transgender kids raises legal complexities.
9 min read
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks on crime and safety during a campaign event at the Livingston County Sheriff's Office, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Howell, Mich.
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks on crime and safety during a campaign event at the Livingston County Sheriff's Office, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Howell, Mich.
Evan Vucci/AP