Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4, and although the media and many in the public have focused on New York’s races for governor and other statewide offices, those are not where the real fight is.

This is a battle over which party will control the state Senate. The outcome will greatly affect all of our state’s public school educators, students and schools.

Hedge-fund managers and other corporate education reformers know how important this election is. They are spending millions of dollars to cement Republican control of the Senate.

The UFT and our allies are making an all-out effort to return control to the Democrats. The fight comes down to a handful of key races, all outside New York City [see the story on page 5].

Join the fight.

Call your borough office to participate in phone banks that will run through Nov. 3.

Join the UFT members going to the Hudson Valley on Saturday, Nov. 1, to do door-knocking and canvassing for Democrat Justin Wagner, who is running to fill an open seat. You can find details and a sign-up form at www.uft.org/justin-wagner.

Make sure you vote, and urge your friends, family members and colleagues to vote.

And, when you cast your ballot, vote yes on Proposal No. 3 concerning the New York Bonds for School Technology Act. This proposal will provide up to $2 billion statewide for upgrading educational technology; building or modernizing facilities for prekindergarten programs; replacing classroom trailers with permanent classrooms; and installing high-tech security features in schools. With the severe overcrowding in many of our schools, this is an important proposal for New York City and the entire state.

If we want to make sure that Albany listens to educators and parents rather than to corporate education reformers and school-privatization advocates, we all need to join the fight in this election.