On the Ballot28 Mai 2025

How school districts are preparing for a tough budget season

On this episode: As school districts adjust to the end of federal COVID relief funding and new policies under President Donald Trump’s administration, many are navigating budget shortfalls, shifting enrollment trends, and tough financial trade-offs.

Dr. Marguerite Roza — Director of the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University — joins the show to break down how education funding works, who makes key budget decisions, and what challenges districts are facing this year. From staff reductions and hiring freezes to community debates over school closures, this episode offers a clear look at how education dollars are allocated—and what parents and community members should know about the process.

Check out our education newsletter: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Hall_Pass

Watch Margueritte’s most recent webinar on school budgets here: https://edunomicslab.org/2025/02/27/a-tough-budget-season-what-you-need-to-know/

This year, we're hoping to learn more about what our audience and what topics you want us to tackle. Complete a brief 5 minute survey to review the show and share some feedback: https://forms.gle/zPxYSog5civyvEKX6

Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.

*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(248)

Why State Constitutions Change MUCH More Frequently Than The Federal Constitution

On this episode: The U.S. Constitution has been amended just 27 times in over 230 years. State constitutions, collectively, have been amended more than 7,000 times — and rewritten from scratch over 14...

24 Jun 18min

Election Administration: How It Works, How It's Changed, and Why It Matters

On this episode: Running an election is harder than it looks — and it's always been that way. Ballotpedia founder and CEO Leslie Graves joins host Norman Leahy to walk through how elections actually g...

27 Mai 21min

Redistricting’s Long History and Rapidly Evolving Present

On this episode: Redistricting happens every decade — but lately it's been making news on a much shorter cycle. Ballotpedia's redistricting expert Nathan Maxwell joins host Norman Leahy to walk throug...

12 Mai 19min

What Leslie Learned at Her First Town Board Meeting

On this episode: Leslie Graves attended her first village board meeting in Spring Green, Wisconsin — and came away surprised by what she found. Norman and Leslie talk through what local government act...

23 Apr 19min

Office Hours: A Closer Look at Local Self-Governance

On this episode: Ballotpedia CEO and Founder Leslie Graves joins host Norm Leahy to dig into a concept that doesn't get nearly enough attention: self-governance at the local level. Leslie wonders whet...

9 Apr 21min

Office Hours: Redistricting’s Real Impact

On this episode: Ballotpedia CEO and co-founder Leslie Graves joins host Norm Leahy to talk redistricting — what's driving the wave of mid-decade map changes ahead of the 2026 midterms, and why the sa...

24 Mar 17min

Primaries and How America Picks Political Candidates (It’s Complicated)

On this episode: Primary season is officially underway in America, and Ballotpedia founder and CEO Leslie Graves joins host Norman Leahy to break down what the early 2026 results actually tell us. The...

12 Mar 20min

Civic Blueprints: The Hidden Work Behind American Democracy

On this episode: As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, Leslie Graves announces Ballotpedia’s new American 250 initiative and Substack, Civic Blueprints, a year-long project focused on the of...

24 Feb 17min