A FEW weeks ago, flyers appeared around Denver in anticipation of a school-board election that was held on November 7th. At first glance, they appeared typical, bearing the smiling face of the candidate next to a short explanation of why she deserved to win. “Jennifer Bacon is the only candidate who has actually taught in public schools,” it read. But above that ordinary proclamation was a more surprising claim. Next to an image of an open safe containing stacks of $100 bills the flyer blared: “Rachel Espiritu’s campaign is funded by dark money from groups outside Colorado tied to Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos.”
Elections to choose school boards, which shape education policy at the local level, have historically been sleepy, low-turnout affairs. But in recent years they have become contentious, serving as proxies for the rancorous debate between advocates of education reform and teachers’ unions. The reformers champion increasing access...Continue reading
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