USN: Education Doesn’t Matter To The Election But It Does To Governing, Mead On Poverty And Support, Ed Trust On Struggling Students, Freshman Baby Rabbits

Spoiler Alert: Presidential candidates don’t talk about education a lot. It doesn’t move voters that much. But that doesn’t mean the election doesn’t matter to education. I take a look at that in a U.S. News & World Report column today.

With the primary season upon us everyone in the education world is talking about the presidential candidates. But the presidential candidates are not really talking about education.

This shouldn’t surprise. It happens almost every cycle but is nonetheless treated as novel or curious even though education rarely matters to presidential campaigns. Yes, voters, especially Democratic voters, tell pollsters education is a priority but that’s not the same thing as voting based on a candidate’s education positions…’

…Yet just because the campaign doesn’t turn on education doesn’t mean the outcome won’t impact our sector.

You can read the entire column here. Tell me on Twitter if you’d prefer a giant gold Trump across the Department of Education or the Bush Administration’s little red schoolhouse entrances? I’d choose a door that only lets you in by chance, good metaphor for our current policies and approach to social mobility.

Speaking of which, if you listened to the Democratic candidates last night or are paying attention at all it will come as no surprise that race is about to play a big role in the Democratic primary contest as Clinton tries to grind down Sanders in the upcoming states. Here’s an interesting paradox: That’s coming on the heels of an education bill that dramatically rolled back federal protections for minority students. Hopefully someone will ask about that? But probably not.

Hearing today on implementing the new law.

Elsewhere:

Sara Mead on poverty, support, and children. Stories from struggling students.  Political education money race in New York. Federal education budget request overview.

Baby rabbit killing-gate still unfolding.

Scariest choose your own adventure ever!

3 Replies to “USN: Education Doesn’t Matter To The Election But It Does To Governing, Mead On Poverty And Support, Ed Trust On Struggling Students, Freshman Baby Rabbits”

  1. I disagree a bit with your column, Andy. Yes, there would be different rhetoric from each. But, I believe, under any and all of them, there would be little pinch or pressure from the USDOE for much of anything. Sure, there would be proposals for different spending at the margins. But, unless one party dominates the Congress and the WH, given budget constraints, those spending plans won’t amount to much.

  2. Thanks Sandy. I’m not sure. Some action on higher ed from some of them and on priorities (eg PrK for Clinton) seems likely. But I don’t think you’re wrong K12 will likely be more constrained.

  3. You’re right, Andy. They’ll try on certain fronts and probably get some action and dollars at the margin. But, given the huge size and scope of the system, I can’t see it as much more than pissin’ in the wind.

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