Election Impact – Expect Teacher Layoffs and Pension Reforms
While most of the media focus has been on the federal dynamic in the House and Senate, the real impact of yesterday’s elections on education will be the changes in the Governorships, and state legislative composition. Many governorships changed hands from Dems to Reps. Before yesterday’s election, 18 of the 37 governorships were controlled by Reps, 19 by Dems. Now 23 are Reps, 10 Dems, 1 Independent and several not yet decided. Similarly, state legislatures moved to the right including the Reps taking control of many state houses. For example, Ed Week reports that 18 state legislative chambers switched from Dems to Reps.
And, while education is not at the top of the reform agenda anywhere, this shift will have a significant impact on education policies in the years ahead. The most immediate new Governors in the Race to the Top states will