The Impact of the 2018 Elections on State Boards of Education

Although the federal election results have attracted most of the post-election commentary, it is at the state level where the change will be long lasting. With the election of 20 new governors, 12 of whom are expected to appoint dozens of new board members early in their terms, 21 newly elected state board of education members, and 2 new state education chiefs, we can expect to see significant shifts in both the makeup of state boards and in the policies they will adopt over the next two years. This analysis examines how leadership changes brought about by the 2018 elections will affect state boards.