Political Action Committees have formed. Millions of dollars are pouring in. This isn't a national race we're talking about. It's the Louisiana state school board election.
Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg contributed $800,000 to the super PAC Empower Louisiana. Walmart heirs Jim and Alice Walton kicked in $400,000. Why are big out of town donors involved in the race for state school board?
Because Louisiana is the model for reforms like charter schools and using standardized test data to determine the fates of schools and teachers. For power players who want those reforms to grow nationally, Louisiana is the proving ground. And the proof is up for grabs, says Luis Miron. He directs the Institute for Quality and Equity in Education at Loyola University.
"It's pretty clear that there'll be some contest over the whole question of which direction the state as a whole has undertaken," Miron says.
Most members of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education -- or BESE -- favor current reforms, including the Common Core.
But that could change. All eleven seats are up for grabs. Eight are on the ballot this Saturday, and three will be appointed by the new governor.
"So on the one side you have the reform movement advocates," Miron says.
Backed by the big donors. These include New Orleans incumbents: attorney James Garvey from District 1, and Kira Orange Jones from District 2. She's Executive Director of Teach for America -- Louisiana.
On the other side: candidates who say the current reforms aren't the solution. Like former teacher Lee Barrios from District 1 and assistant principal Kara Washington from District 2. They want more school funding and certified teachers, and less focus on one standardized test.
Luis Miron says other school districts might pay close attention to the board's stance on charter schools.
"There is serious doubts as to whether this model can be grown nationally," he says. "If the majority of the school board members who are elected decided to go full throttle against school choice, that's not gonna bode well for scaling up that model beyond New Orleans. Maybe I could use the analogy of a traffic light. If the board turns against the reform ideologies, then I would believe there's a caution."
A yellow light for other cities and states, signaled by our local election.
Support for education reporting on WWNO comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Entergy Corporation.
The story above have been revised to reflect the following correction: The text version of this story contained a transcription error, which made it appear as if former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg contributed $80,000 to the Empower Louisiana super PAC. He actually contributed $800,000.