Conservatives are capturing school board seats using money from national political action committees, high profile endorsements and local parents’ groups. And to an extent, some of these candidates have won big. The sometimes little-noticed races present an opportunity, Republican leaders say, to oversee what children are taught and advance a broader conservative agenda. Frustration with pandemic restrictions, teaching about civil rights and allowing accommodations for transgender students are among the animating issues for GOP-backed candidates, many of them new to politics or education policy. Groups including Moms for Liberty and local political action committees are also helping drive interest in these races. They are endorsing and raising money for candidates, many of whom reject schools' coronavirus precautions and what students are learning about race. Read more about how school board elections have become the center of political polarization in many parts of the country, and the potential impact this can have on education in the future through our link in bio.