2006 General Election

Federal and State ElectionsNovember 2006

What’s At Stake In 2006?

Federal– Legislative Branch

• 435 seats in the US House of Representatives• 33 seats in the US Senate

State– Executive Branch

• 36 gubernatorial seats– Legislative Branch

• 44 states elect legislators in both houses• 2 states elect legislators in only one house• 80% of state legislative seats

– Chief State School Officers• 8 states elect chief state school officers• 10 states elect governors who will appoint chief state

school officers

Pre-Election Federal Political Context

Senators: 100• 55 Republicans• 44 Democrats• 1 Independent

Representatives: 435• 230 Republicans• 201 Democrats• 1 Independent• 3 Vacancies

2000 Census: 281,998,273• Estimated Voting Age

Population: 205,815,000• Registered: 156,421,311

Republican (15)Democrat (17)Independent (1)

2006 US Senate Races

Republican (9)Democrat (22)Independent (2)

2006 US Senate Results

Republican (197)Democrat (229)

2006 US House Most Republican Losses

Post-Election Federal Political Context

Senators: 100• 49 Republicans• 49 Democrats• 2 Independents

Representatives: 435• 197 Republicans• 229 Democrats• 9 undecided

2000 Census: 281,998,273• Estimated Voting Age

Population: 205,815,000• Registered: 156,421,311

Pre-Election State Political Context

Governors: 50• 28 Republicans• 22 Democrats

Legislatures: 50• 20 Republican• 19 Democratic• 10 Split• 1 Nonpartisan

Chief State School Officers: 50• 14 Elected• 13 Appointed by governors• 23 Appointed by boards

2006 Pre-Election Governors

Republican (28)Democrat (22)

2006 Governor Races

Republican (22)Democrat (14)

2006 Governors Races-Education Issues

• School Consolidation/Facilities• STEM Programs• High School Reform

– Dual Enrollment– Expanded AP/IB– Career/Technical/Vocational Programs

• Highly Qualified Teachers– Recruitment/Retention– Compensation/Professional Development

• Choice (Vouchers, Charter Schools)• Expanding Pre- and Full-Day Kindergarten• P-20 Councils• Turnaround Low-Performing Schools• Improving & Expanding Financial Aid• Reducing Class Sizes

2006 Post-Election Governors

Republican (22)Democrat (28)

2006 New Governors-Education Agendas

Alaska

Republican Sarah Palin

• Recruit Highly Qualified Teachers• Provide Parental Choice

– Public Schools– Private Schools– Charter Schools– Correspondence– Cyber Schools– Home Schools

• Bolster Vocational/Technical Training• Increase Parental Involvement

Arkansas

Democrat Mike Beebe

• Develop Universal Pre-K ($40 million)• Improve Parental Involvement• Seamless Education Transition with After-School & Summer

Programs• Develop Statewide Broadband Infrastructure & Provide

Technology Equity• Ensure Teacher Quality• Encourage Traveling Teachers• Launch Pilot Program for Comprehensive Alternative Pay

Option• Need-based Financial Aid for Educational Enhancement Grants• Expand Career Pathways Initiative

Colorado

Democrat Bill Ritter

• Develop Teacher Cadet Programs• Establish Principals Institute• Support Pay for Performance• Improve Teacher Recruitment• Expand Early Childhood Education• Create Child Care Report Card• More Opportunities for Low-Performing Schools• Greater Emphasis on Math & Science• Incorporate Technology & Create Robust Data Systems• Streamline Accountability Systems• Establish P-20 Council• Salvage Community College System

Florida

Republican Charlie Crist

• Increased Funding & Incentives for Teachers & Principals• Support Site-Based Management• Truth in Spending: 65% in classroom by 2010, 70% by 2015• Turnaround Teams• Improve Graduation Rate to 95% by 2015• Promote K-20 Math & Science• Excellence Through Civics & Public Service

– Character Development Education

• Support School Choice• Increase Dual Enrollment Opportunities

• Satisfy Mandate to Reduce Class Sizes

Idaho

Republican Butch Otter

• Ensure Better Math & Science Programs• Meet Mandate to Provide Students With Best Educational

Tools Needed for Success in the Global Marketplace• Promote Community Colleges Statewide

Iowa

Democrat Chet Culver

• Create Accredited Pre-K Programs in Every School District• Increase Teacher Salaries to the National Average• Increase State Share of School Support by $40 million• Implement High Schools That Work Model• Senior Year Plus• Create All-Iowa Opportunity Scholarship• Incentive Funding for Schools To Limit Tuition Increases• Expand Use of Technology & Distance Learning• Expand Merit Grants• Expand Nursing Education Loan Forgiveness Program

Maryland

Democrat Martin O’Malley

• Build New Schools & Reduce Class Size• Fully Fund the Thornton Education Plan• Increase Accountability• Make Sure Education Dollars Are Spent in the Classroom• Recruit & Retain the Best Teachers• Relief from Soaring Tuition Costs• Invest in Vocational, Technical & Life-Long Education• Promote Community Colleges• Expand College Access

Massachusetts

Democrat Deval Patrick

• Expand Early Education Opportunities• Extend the School Day• Reduce Class Size• Coordinate After-School Programs• Support Charter Schools• Support High Quality Teaching• Provide Adequate Resources for Schools• Improve Assessment Tools• Close the Achievement Gap• Reinvest in Higher Education

Nevada

Republican Jim Gibbons

• Improve NCLB– Highly Qualified Requirements for Rural Teachers

• Ensure Adequate Funding– Revenue From Federal Land Sales

• At Least 65% of Each Education Tax Dollar Spent in the Classroom

• Education First Initiative– Legislature Must Fund Education Budget First

New York

Democrat Eliot Spitzer

• Guarantee Access to Pre-K• Reduce Class Sizes• More Highly Qualified Teachers Through Cooperation with

SUNY, CUNY & Private Schools of Education• Resolve the Campaign for Fiscal Equity Lawsuit• Expand Literacy Programs• Improve Vocational Education• Make the School Day Longer• Produce Strong, Effective School Principals• Commit to Lifelong Learning• Make Higher Education More Affordable• Ensure Higher Education Achieves Academic Excellence

Ohio

Democrat Ted Strickland

• High Quality Early Care & Education• Encourage Full-Day Kindergarten• Technology in Schools• Broaden Access to College• Increase Availability of Voluntary Screening & Treatment of

Physical & Behavioral Health Problems• Establish Early Childhood Cabinet

2006 Pre-Election State Legislatures

Republican (20)Democrat (19)Split (10)Independent (1)

2006 Pre-Election State Government Party Control

Republican (12)Democrat (8)Split (30)

2006 State Legislative Elections

• Control of Chambers– 46 sates elect legislators – 80% of state legislative seats

• New Legislative Boundaries– 44 state legislatures have authority to draw

Congressional Districts– 39 states have more than one Congressional

District– 2010 redistricting

2006 Post-Election State Legislatures

Republican (15)Democrat (23)Split (11)Independent (1)

2006 Post-Election State Government Party Control

Republican (10)Democrat (15)Split (25)

2006 Chief State School Officer Races

RepublicanDemocrat

2006 Chief State School Officer Results

RepublicanDemocrat

Post-Election State Political Context

Governors: 50• 22 Republicans• 28 Democrats

Legislatures: 50• 15 Republican• 23 Democratic• 11 Split• 1 Nonpartisan

Chief State School Officers: 50• 14 Elected• 13 Appointed by governors• 23 Appointed by boards

2006 Education Ballot Initiatives• California

– Prop. 1D: Public School Facilities (Passed)– Prop. 88: $50 Parcel Tax (Failed)

• Colorado– Amendment 39: 65% Rule (Failed)

• Idaho– Prop. 1: 1% Dedicated Sales Tax (Failed)

• Michigan– Proposal 2: Prohibits Racial Preferences (Passed)– Proposal 5: Minimum Spending Level (Failed)

• Nebraska– Measure 22: School District Consolidation (Failed)– Amendment 5: $40 million for early childhood (Passed)

• Nevada– Question 1: Education First (Passed)

• Ohio– Issue 3: Slot Machines for College Scholarships (Failed)

• Pennsylvania– Question 4: Bonds for Higher Education Buildings (Passed)

If you have any questions or comments, please contact: Charles Merritt

Vice President of External Relations700 Broadway, Suite 1200

Denver, CO 80203(303) 299-3638

cmerritt@ecs.org http://www.ecs.org