On Tuesday, U.S. voters will elect the country's next president. But voters in some states will also have to make big decisions that could greatly affect education within their state. Here are some of the most important education issues being voted on come November 8: 

Bilingual Education in California

On Tuesday, California voters will vote “yes” or “no” on Proposition 58, a proposition that will lift 18-year restrictions on bilingual education.

As opposed to providing just English-only language instruction, California schools will be able to, if the vote passes, create bilingual learning programs for the first time in 18 years. 

Outdoor Education in Oregon

Oregon voters will decide on Tuesday if it will be the first state in history to allocate funding for the purpose of outdoor education.

If they vote yes on Measure 99, $22 million will be transferred from the state lottery’s economic development fund and be funneled into helping all fifth and sixth graders in the state have an opportunity to attend Oregon’s Outdoor School, a program that has been connecting students to Oregon’s natural treasures for a half-century.

If there is leftover funding after all students have an opportunity to attend, the money will go towards supporting other outdoor education programs in Oregon’s schools. 

Charter Schools in Massachusetts

Considered one of the most heated education issues this election season, Massachusetts voters will decide on Tuesday "yes" or "no" on Question 2 to decide if the state will allow up to twelve new public charter schools to open in the state on a yearly basis. In other words, Massachusetts voters will decide whether or not charter schools should expand within the state.

The issue has incredibly passionate voters on both the supporting and opposing side of the debate, so it will be interesting to see how the vote turns out. 

Failing Schools in Georgia

By voting in favor of the Opportunity School District, Georgia voters will approve the “supervision, management, and operation of public elementary and secondary schools which have been determined to be failing through any governance model allowed by law.”

The state would be able to govern up to 100 schools at a time and up to 20 schools per year. 

Stay tuned for updates from Education World next week for the results.

Nicole Gorman, Senior Education World Contributor

11/4/2016