{"id":8311,"date":"2016-09-14T20:29:39","date_gmt":"2016-09-15T03:29:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shermandorn.com\/wordpress\/?p=8311"},"modified":"2016-09-15T06:50:17","modified_gmt":"2016-09-15T13:50:17","slug":"california-vs-massachusetts-education-ballot-question-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shermandorn.com\/?p=8311","title":{"rendered":"California vs. Massachusetts education ballot question politics"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fifteen years ago, I am guessing, a ballot question in California<\/a> to repeal the state’s ban on bilingual education<\/a> would have been highly controversial, far more politically explosive\u00a0than a ballot question in Massachusetts that would allow slow but consistent expansion of the state’s charter schools<\/a>. At least in terms of spending on the ballot questions, you might expect a lot more\u00a0money flying in California than in Massachusetts. But in 2016, it’s apparently Massachusetts Question 2 that has more than $15 million<\/a> lined up on either side (combined). I could not find polls in California on Proposition 58 (the proposed repeal of 1998’s Proposition 227), but there are some in Massachusetts, which suggest that majority support from late spring may be melting (see the WBUR page linked above<\/a>).<\/p>\n

I suspect the vitriol in Massachusetts is only going to get worse, but from this outsider’s perspective, a few blunt thoughts:<\/p>\n