Political Groups’ Influence

STATE OF THE SUPERINTENDENCY

Superintendents in school districts with less poverty tend to experience the most significant impact from political groups on school board elections and districts’ spending referenda and bond elections.

Fifty percent of superintendents in districts where a quarter or fewer students qualified for the federal lunch program expressed major concern about political groups’ influence on board elections and 32 percent expressed the same on public spending votes.

Survey researchers at EAB said right-leaning groups are “attempting to use fights over critical race theory and other ‘culture war’ issues to win back white suburban districts that have swung to the Democrats over the last eight years. These districts tend to be wealthier and therefore enroll fewer students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.”

The survey conducted by EAB had 198 respondents. About 22 percent were superintendents in the low-poverty category.

Source:  2023 Voice of the Superintendent, EAB.com.