Author: Samuel Wonacott

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #57

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    Welcome to Hall Pass, a newsletter written to keep you plugged into the conversations driving school board politics and governance. In today’s edition, you’ll find: On the issues: The debate over Satanist after-school clubs  Share candidate endorsements with us!  School board filing deadlines, election results, and recall certifications In almost half of states, school board…

  • Ballot initiative signature campaign costs increased nearly 300% over the past four elections

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    Welcome to the Friday, April 14, Brew.  Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Ballot initiative signature campaign costs increased nearly 300% over the past four elections DNC announces Chicago as host city for 2024 Democratic National Convention, RNC announces Fox News will host first Republican primary debate #FridayTrivia: How many…

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #56

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    Welcome to Hall Pass, a newsletter written to keep you plugged into the conversations driving school board politics and governance. In today’s edition, you’ll find: On the issues: The debate over middle school algebra  Share candidate endorsements with us!  School board filing deadlines, election results, and recall certifications Reflections on COSSBA’s inaugural conference    Extracurricular: education…

  • A report from COSSBA’s inaugural conference

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    Welcome to the Tuesday, April 11, Brew.  Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: COSSBA holds inaugural conference in Tampa New Hampshire State Senate passes amendment to keep first-in-the-nation presidential primary Twenty-seven candidates filed for congressional and state offices last week COSSBA holds inaugural conference in Tampa    Today, we’re doing something…

  • Republicans get veto-proof majorities in two new states after recent party switches

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    Welcome to the Friday, April 7, Brew.  By: Samuel Wonacott Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Recent party switches give Republicans veto-proof majorities in two more legislatures Tennessee House votes to remove two members    #FridayTrivia: How many states require or allow for partisan school board races? Recent party switches give…

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #55

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    Welcome to Hall Pass, a newsletter written to keep you plugged into the conversations driving school board politics and governance. In today’s edition, you’ll find: On the issues: reactions to the Houston school takeover  Share candidate endorsements with us!  School board filing deadlines, election results, and recall certifications Here’s what COSSBA conference attendees had to…

  • Indiana and North Carolina are two of five states where the state superintendent of schools is included in the gubernatorial line of succession

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    The Indiana Senate voted on March 16 to refer a constitutional amendment to the November 2024 ballot that would remove the superintendent of public instruction from the gubernatorial line of succession. The superintendent of public instruction is sixth, and last, in Indiana’s gubernatorial line of succession, following the secretary of state, the state auditor, the…

  • Florida expands education savings account (ESA) program

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    On March 27, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a measure that expands the state’s Family Empowerment Scholarship program. The expanded program will provide K-12 students with around $7,500 for educational expenses outside of the public school system, including private school tuition, tutoring, and homeschooling expenses.  The Family Empowerment Scholarship was created in 2014 and…

  • Here’s who is in line to replace your governor in the event of a vacancy

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    Welcome to the Friday, March 31, Brew.  Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: In five states, the state superintendent of schools is included in the gubernatorial line of succession  U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin becomes Paul Vallas’ first congressional endorsement in Chicago mayoral runoff  #FridayTrivia: How many bills related to voter…

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #54

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    Welcome to Hall Pass, a newsletter written to keep you plugged into the conversations driving school board politics and governance. In today’s edition, you’ll find: On the issues: The debate over Los Angeles school union strikes Share candidate endorsements with us!  School board filing deadlines, election results, and recall certifications A look at Oklahoma’s April…