EducationNEAEducationelection-day-2012

Education In the Election: Key State Ballot Measures That The National Education Association Is Tracking (SLIDESHOW)

Education In The Election: Key State Measures Up For Vote (SLIDESHOW)
Open Image Modal
California Gov. Jerry Brown campaigns for Proposition 30 in the Panorama City section of Los Angeles on Monday, Nov. 5, 2012. Brown launched his latest swing through Southern California Monday to support his tax initiative for schools, Proposition 30. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

As voters cast their ballots today, those with an eye on education are keeping tabs on where states are leaning on the numerous education measures appearing on those ballots.

Issues on the table include collective bargaining rights, teacher merit pay and evaluations, charter schools, among others, and reside in states like Florida, Georgia and Illinois.

The National Education Association, the country's largest teachers union, has taken a stance on the various measures up for vote today.

Check out the slideshow below to see what the key measures are, and where the NEA stands on various state initiatives:

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

State Ballot Measures That NEA Is Tracking
Arizona(01 of19)
Open Image Modal
Ballot Measure:Proposition 204 — would create a permanent one-cent-per-dollar sales tax to benefit education and early childhood. NEA Position: Yes (credit:Alamy)
California(02 of19)
Open Image Modal
Ballot Measure:Proposition 30 — would raise income taxes by 1 to 3 percent for the next seven years on individuals making more than $250,000, to fund public schools and universities. Also includes quarter-cent sales tax increase for four years.NEA Position: Yes (credit:AP)
California(03 of19)
Open Image Modal
Ballot Measure:Proposition 32 — would prevent unions from using dues automatically pulled from employees' paychecks to sponsor political activity.NEA Position: No (credit:AP)
Florida(04 of19)
Open Image Modal
Ballot Measure:Amendment 3 — would set a state revenue limit each year based on a formula that considers population growth and inflation, instead of using the current method of calculating the revenue limit based on personal income. Under current law, Amendment 3 would require the state, upon exceeding the revenue limit, to deposit the excess revenue into the Budget Stabilization Fund. If the reserve fund were to exceed its cap, the excess money would be deposited into a fund that supports public education, a change from current law.NEA Position: No (credit:Alamy)
Florida(05 of19)
Open Image Modal
Ballot Measure:Amendment 8 — titled “Religious Freedom,” would remove the ban on using tax dollars to fund religious entities, organizations, churches or parochial schools, saying taxpayer money can fund religious entities.NEA Position: No (credit:AP)
Georgia(06 of19)
Open Image Modal
Ballot Measure:Amendment 1 — would re-establish an appointed statewide commission to authorize new charter schools.NEA Position: No (credit:AP)
Idaho(07 of19)
Open Image Modal
Ballot Measure:Proposition 1 — would limit collective bargaining rights for teachers and end the practice of issuing renewable contracts.NEA Position: No (credit:AP)
Idaho(08 of19)
Open Image Modal
Ballot Measure:Proposition 2 —would implement a merit-pay bonus program for teachers based on state-mandated test scores, student performance, hard-to-fill positions and leadershipNEA Position: No (credit:AP)
Idaho(09 of19)
Open Image Modal
Ballot Measure:Proposition 3 — would eventually grant a laptop to every high school teacher and student, and bring a renewed focus to online learning. NEA Position: No (credit:AP)
Illinois(10 of19)
Open Image Modal
Ballot Measure:Amendment HJRCA 49 — would require a three-fifths vote from both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly to pass pension increases for public employees. Currently, pension increases need only a majority vote in the General Assembly to pass.NEA Position: No (credit:AP)
Maryland(11 of19)
Open Image Modal
Ballot Measure:Question 4 — would allow some of Maryland’s undocumented high school graduates to 3, provided they satisfy certain criteria. NEA Position: Yes (credit:Alamy)
Maryland(12 of19)
Open Image Modal
Ballot Measure:Question 6 — would uphold the state’s marriage equality law that allows
gay and lesbian couples to obtain a civil marriage license
.NEA Position: Yes (credit:Alamy)
Michigan(13 of19)
Open Image Modal
Ballot Measure:Proposal 2 — would preserve the right to collectively bargain in the state constitution for both private and public sector employees.NEA Position: Yes (credit:AP)
Michigan(14 of19)
Open Image Modal
Ballot Measure:Proposal 5 — would require either a two-thirds majority vote in the State House and the State Senate, or a statewide vote of the people at a November election to raise taxes.NEA Position: No (credit:AP)
Minnesota(15 of19)
Open Image Modal
Ballot Measure:Amendment 2 — would require that all voters in the state show photo identification before voting in future elections.NEA Position: No (credit:AP)
Ohio(16 of19)
Open Image Modal
Ballot Measure:Issue 2 — would reform the way the state’s Congressional and legislative boundaries are drawn, a process known as redistricting that happens every 10 years, coinciding with the federal census. Issue 2 would remove elected officials from the redistricting process and hand the responsibility over to a new, 12-person citizen commission. NEA Position: Yes (credit:Alamy)
South Dakota(17 of19)
Open Image Modal
Ballot Measure:Initiated Measure 15 — would add a one-cent sales tax for public education and Medicaid reimbursement.NEA Position: Yes (credit:Alamy)
South Dakota(18 of19)
Open Image Modal
Ballot Measure:Referred Law 16 — would establish a teacher scholarship program; create a program for math and science teacher bonuses; create a program for teacher merit bonuses; mandate a uniform teacher and principal evaluation system; and eliminate state requirements for teacher tenure.NEA Position: No (credit:Alamy)
Washington(19 of19)
Open Image Modal
Ballot Measure:Initiative 1240 — would allow for the creation of eight charter schools in the state annually for five years — a total of 40. After five years, the charter system would be up for review.NEA Position: No (credit:Alamy)
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip