Navigating Democracy & Education Together

By Kira Orange Jones, former Vice President of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education & Nathan Lockwood, Executive Director of Rank the Vote

Across the country, recent upheavals within local school boards combined with the broader national democracy crisis have laid bare the pressing need for dramatic changes to restore trust and efficacy in our democratic processes. Every citizen should be awakened to the critical state of our nation, compelled to advocate for and support significant reforms that strengthen democratic engagement and ensure representative governance at all levels - starting with  our schools. 

As co-chairs of the exploratory committee for The Cornerstone Project, we are speaking out now at a critical juncture in our nation’s history—a point where the paths of democracy and education not only intersect but must be navigated together. 

The Cornerstone Project represents a bold step forward in this critical endeavor. Anchored by Education Civil Rights Now, The Open System Institute, and Seek Common Ground (and so many more organizations and leaders), this initiative aims to redesign the very infrastructure of how educational governance and democratic processes interact and influence each other. Low participation and low choice systems currently dominate our education democracy while accelerating extremism. Through targeted high-participation reforms such as implementing ranked choice voting in education races, aligning these elections with even-year cycles, advocating for public financing, and upholding the principle of quality education as a civil right, The Cornerstone Project seeks to work with local advocates, organizations, and communities to find the local strategy that brings more voters to the table.

Our backgrounds in educational leadership and democratic innovation fuel our commitment to this project. Kira, as the former vice president of the state education board in Louisiana, has witnessed firsthand the opportunities and failures of our education democracy infrastructure. Nathan’s experience in technology and civic engagement, including his pivotal role in launching platforms that enhance civic participation now as Executive Director of Rank the Vote - a national organization promoting democracy reform around the country underscores our shared vision: an education system that not only informs but also empowers its constituents. We both see how the challenges facing our democratic institutions are mirrored in our educational systems, where disparities and disengagements persist, threatening the fabric of our society.

There is a reason that Americans across political ideologies are increasingly uniting behind democracy reform. It was recently supported by both moderate Republican Senators and the House Progressive caucus.  Few public policy ideas can claim that type of support. We need to bring this urgent cross-partisan energy to education. 

We believe implementing these exciting ideas in education races around the country is powerful for a few reasons. First, we believe that many Americans would agree that our education governance structures could improve. Second, many school board members eventually run for state legislature and Congress - meaning powerful reforms such as these could have lasting impact in our democracy. Third, we know that democracy reform can bring diverse Americans into political leadership - women, people of color, and pragmatists of all stripes - people we need desperately in our education system. Lastly, we believe that, in an era of low trust, starting locally with democracy redesign can help Americans see and feel progress first.  

The intertwining of education and democracy is undeniable. Educational institutions are not merely spaces for academic endeavor; they are the training grounds for future citizens. In an era when it’s becoming exponentially more difficult to discern fact from fiction, a quality public education system and a well educated populace are critical to the survival of a healthy democracy. As our country grapples with polarization, the erosion of civil discourse, and a general disenchantment with democratic processes, the need to bolster our educational democracy foundation has never been so urgent.

We are calling on leaders and stakeholders within both the education and democracy sectors to join us. Your expertise, your passion, and your insight are crucial to turning the aspirations of The Cornerstone Project into tangible outcomes. Our call also extends beyond the professionals engaged in these sectors. We urge every American to recognize the vital link between education and democracy - and the urgent need for renovation. We are holding learning sessions every month, bringing on new partnerships, and inviting all to join our cause.

The road ahead is undoubtedly challenging, but the stakes are too high, and the potential rewards too significant, to shy away from this endeavor. Together, let’s lay down this cornerstone, not just for the current generation, but for every future one, ensuring that our democracy remains vibrant, inclusive, and true to its ideals.