Democracy in Dispute? Ballot Initiatives, Education Policy, and Equal Educational Opportunity

• In Event: Roundtable Session 32
  In Roundtable Session: Educational Policies Pursuing Equal Opportunity

Abstract

This paper addresses the following question: What are the consequences of ballot initiatives on education policy decisions, and what are the specific implications for minorities and other non-dominant groups? Quantitative analyses explore the factors associated with the passage of education ballot initiatives in the US, including whether they explicitly target the rights and/or services of minority groups. This analysis is supplemented by (a) qualitative analyses of substantive areas where initiatives have impacted education policy, and (b) philosophical inquiry regarding initiatives’ impact on democracy and equal opportunity. Preliminary results suggest that initiatives targeting minority groups do pass at higher rates than other education initiatives, suggesting that education ballot initiatives may exacerbate existing inequalities and have lasting implications for democracy and justice.

Author

• Amy Nichole Farley, University of Colorado - Boulder