On this episode (#183): Authority over public education is shifting in many parts of the country, as states revisit the role of local school boards and adopt new policies on curriculum, student rights, and parental involvement. In Ohio, a recently enacted Parents’ Bill of Rights outlines new requirements for school districts related to parental notification and religious instruction. Meanwhile, nationwide, school boards vary widely in the powers they hold—some have broad autonomy over budgets and staffing, while others operate under tighter state-level guidance. This episode takes a closer look at how these dynamics are evolving, the policy debates shaping them, and what these changes mean for voters, educators, and families navigating public education systems.

Guest(s): Alissa Widman Neese, Reporter for Axios Columbus, and Annelise Reinwald, Staff Writer at Ballotpedia

Key Highlights

• Ohio’s new Parents’ Bill of Rights law mandates parent notification about gender identity and allows students to leave for private religious instruction during the school day.
• School board authority varies widely across the country—some have broad control over curriculum and budgets, others are tightly constrained by state laws.
• Some states are expanding local control (like Kentucky), while others pass statewide mandates limiting what school boards can do on issues like DEI and gender policies.

On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.