Money has been pouring into the ballot questions in Massachusetts, particularly Question 2, which would lift the cap on charter schools.

Question 2 is the most expensively fought ballot question in recent Massachusetts history with more than $22 million raised by both sides thus far.

Teachers unions, including the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the National Education Association, have put in more than 99 percent of the funding for opponents of Question 2.

On the yes side, the single largest donor is a New York based nonprofit called Families for Excellent Schools. They've donated $9 million, more than 72 percent of the funding in support of Question 2.

Families for Excellent Schools is a 501(c)(3) organization, meaning it's not required to disclose its donor list. However, the group provided powerful support and advocacy to an effort to expand charter schools in New York State, as it's doing now in Massachusetts.

The group's New York advocacy caught the attention of reporter George Joseph. His article, "9 Billionaires Are About to Remake New York's Public Schools," appeared in The Nation magazine last year.

Guest

George Joseph, a fellow at CityLab from The Atlantic Monthly who covers schools, surveillance and policing. He tweets @georgejoseph94.