Do Partisan Elections Change School Board Policies or Just Who Sits on Them?

• In Event: Governing Democracy: School Boards, Elections, and Local Policy Responses

Abstract

In 2021, Tennessee passed legislation allowing counties to adopt partisan school board elections. Scholars have long debated whether formal party labels significantly affect local policy, as voters often recognize partisan allies even without labels, and local politicians frequently implement similar policies regardless of partisanship. Using data from 2018–2024, this study examines how partisan school board elections affect (1) board composition and (2) districts’ strategic goals. Results show that partisan elections significantly increased board turnover but had little effect on districts’ goals. These findings suggest that while partisanship reshaped who governs local districts, it had limited impact on what those districts do. This study contributes to broader debates on the role of politics in education.

Author

• Shelby Buono Shumard, College of Charleston