The National Education Association today released new polling that highlights voters’ true priorities when it comes to schools and education as we head in to the 2024 election cycle. It shows that both parents and nonparents of school-aged children are very concerned about a wide range of challenges facing schools, including a lack of funding, school safety and shootings, teacher shortages, students falling behind academically, and insufficient mental health support.
Some of they key finding of the national poll are as follows.
- Lack of funding, teacher pay, and school shootings are voters’ top-of-mind concerns about education.
- When given a list, voters rank pandemic learning recovery, lack of school funding, lack of technical training, insufficient mental health support, and educator shortages as the most serious problems facing K-12 public education.
- On issues of history and curriculum specifically, voters are concerned about bans and restrictions.
- Among parents, the top concerns include insufficient mental health support, inadequate instruction on practical/technical skills, the lack of funding for the basics, and pandemic learning loss.
- Voters across party lines have positive views of public schools and teachers.
Read the complete findings from the survey conducted by GBAO Strategies.
“Across America, most of us want the same thing–strong public schools where all students, no matter their race, ZIP code, or background, have the resources and opportunities to grow into their full brilliance,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “In every community across the nation–rural, urban, and suburban alike–parents and educators are partnering to help students thrive.”
