Decoding School Board Races on Your Ballot
Students arrive at Jose Ortega Elementary School for the first day of their school year on August 17, 2026, in San Francisco. (Miles Cull/KQED)
Airdate: Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at 9 am
Voters across the Bay Area will weigh in on more than 100 school board races in next Tuesday’s election. As many school districts face declining enrollment, tight budgets and difficult decisions about the role of technology in classrooms, the make-up of school boards is critical. But voters often have very little information about the candidates, what they stand for or who supports them. This year, to address that void, KQED sent questionnaires to close to 400 school board candidates to better understand their positions. We’ll talk about the issues facing school boards and how to make an informed vote.
Guest:
- Jill Tucker, K-12 Education Reporter, San Francisco Chronicle
- Molly Gibbs, education reporter, The Mercury News and East Bay Times
- Katie DeBenedetti, reporter, KQED
- Ashley McBride, education equity reporter, The Oaklandside