Parents Strongly Support Conservative Education Reforms: Poll

Students walk to their classrooms at a middle school in Los Angeles on Sept. 10, 2021. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

Parental support for conservative-leaning education reforms in the United States is substantial, according to a recent poll conducted by Parents Defending Education (PDE), which was released on Jan. 6.

A national grassroots organization with a conservative perspective, PDE says it seeks to impact education policy and practices nationwide. Among its declared goals is the promotion of an educational system that places a premium on fundamental academic skills while minimizing the role of politics in the classroom.

The survey, carried out by a third party national research firm, took place from Dec. 12 to 18, 2024, using a sample of 1,000 parents with children under the age of 18.

Out of 1,000 parents surveyed, 33 percent were Republicans, 38 percent were Independents, and 24 percent were Democrats. They were asked for their views on a broad range of topics. The vast majority of respondents, roughly 96 percent, felt that parents should have the freedom to decide what kind of schooling is best for their children.

Sixty percent of parents would keep their child’s present school if given the choice. Almost 20 percent would opt for a different school, and 16 percent would opt to educate their children at home.

Reading, writing, and arithmetic should be the primary priorities of public schools, according to 90 percent of parents.

“These results highlight that parents are dissatisfied with a number of elements of the modern American education system,” PDE President Nicole Neily said. “For far too long, federal bureaucrats have sacrificed the needs of students and families in order to appease unions’ and activists’ insatiable demands for money and power.”

Consensus on Hot-Button Issues

The poll found that 56 percent of parents were opposed to the establishment of school organizations that were based on race or ethnicity, as well as the recruitment of teachers based on their race in order to reflect the demographics of their students. Additionally, 82 percent of respondents concurred that the race of a pupil should not be a determining factor in disciplinary decisions.

Although the LGBT movement’s integration into the classroom over the past decade has been a frequently debated topic in public institutions, according to the survey, an overwhelming 80 percent majority of respondents said that schools should not assist students in altering their gender identity without informing their parents.

Additionally, 77 percent of those polled believed that district personnel should be obligated to notify parents in the event that their child employs a different name or pronoun at school.

Seventy-four percent of respondents were opposed to elementary students receiving instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity or assisting students in transitioning.

Three out of four parents concurred that males should not participate in girls’ sports teams, utilize girls’ facilities, or share accommodations with their peers based on their gender identity during overnight trips.

“This poll shows overwhelming opposition to school personnel withholding information from parents about their child’s gender identity at school,” PDE Director of Outreach Erika Sanzi noted.

“This matters because the policies propagated by activist groups, the National School Boards Association and teachers’ unions all allow for—and often require—the deliberate deception of parents by school staff if that is what the minor child wants.”

Mixed Views on Federal Oversight

One of President-elect Donald Trump’s more controversial proposals during the election campaign was the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education. According to the survey, parental views on the role of the department are divided.

Support for the dissolution of the department was highest among Republicans at 67 percent, while Democrat support sat at 29 percent. Reducing the department’s size and influence was supported by 52 percent of parents.

Even if the department’s use of its resources was evenly distributed, 77 percent of parents wanted to give states more leeway.

As for the department’s operating efficiency, the survey showed that half of the parents disputed it is making good use of resources, while half agreed. Parents of color, especially those who identified as Democrats, were the most vocal in their support for the department’s present function.