Education issues were a priority for parents this election cycle

One of the most important issues to American parents this voting cycle was education, according to an October poll conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of EdChoice.

A national sample of 1,295 K-12 parents were asked about the three issues top of mind as they prepared to cast their votes for federal offices and for state offices. For both questions, economic issues (such as taxes, wages, jobs, and inflation) came in #1 and education issues (such as student learning, school funding, school choice, and student loans) came in at #2. Health care issues came in at #3.

School choice was a particular driver for Republican gains among Latino voters, according to NBC political commentator Chuck Todd.

“If this year’s election taught political observers anything, it’s that you can’t tell people they’re getting something good when they believe they’re not,” writes former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. “…[Y]ou can’t tell them their assigned public schools are delivering for their kids when they can plainly see outcomes that don’t align with those promises.”

For years, families have been told that the one-size-fits-all public education system would prepare their children for the future. But more and more parents, particularly in historically underserved communities, are demanding options. They’re recognizing that choice empowers them to find the right educational fit for their child — a fit that meets individual needs, talents and goals and that’s responsive to their cultural values and expectations.
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Policymakers should take the lessons from this election and recognize that families are sending a clear message: They want the freedom to choose an education that works for their child.

Only one-third of parents feel that K-12 education is on the right track nationwide, according to results from the aforementioned October poll. Parents are slightly more optimistic about the direction of K-12 education in their state (42 percent), and half (50 percent) feel their local school district is going in the right direction.