FreedomWorks Foundation Releases New Education Survey

Between December 16 and 17, 2021, FreedomWorks Foundation in partnership with Scott Rasmussen conducted a survey of 1,200 registered voters to gauge their positions and opinions on a number of issues pertaining to education. Survey highlights include the following:

Despite their public school ratings skewing more positive than negative, registered voters overall support parental involvement in their children’s education. They also support a public school curriculum that teaches that America’s founding and impact on the rest of the world were generally exceptional.

Public School Ratings – Registered voters’ ratings of the public schools in their area lean more positive. (See attached chart.)

Parental Involvement – Overall, registered voters support parental involvement in their children’s education and believe parents have too little control over the curriculum at the moment.

• 85% believe parents should be allowed to see all the curriculum, books, and materials used in their children’s classes.

• 49% believe parents have too little control over their children’s education, 11% believe they have too much, and 25% believe they have about the right amount.

• 71% believe parents should have a significant role in the development of curriculum for their children (30% very, 41% somewhat).

Curriculum Topics – Registered voters strongly support curriculum with positive teachings on America’s past and role in the world. That said, 42% believe students should be taught that it was founded on racism, slavery, and white supremacy, suggesting a significant proportion of respondents believe both concepts should be taught in public schools.

• When asked whether students in public schools should be taught that America was founded on the ideals of freedom, equality, and self-governance, 81% of registered voters said yes.

• 64% believe public schools should teach students that the United States is a force for good in the world. 15% believe this should not be taught, and 21% were unsure.

• That said, respondents were more split when asked whether students should be taught that America was founded on racism, slavery, and white supremacy. 42% said they should, and 44% said they should not.

Curriculum Conflicts – Registered voters overall support parents in school board disputes, and a stronger majority support solutions such as school choice and parent quotas on school boards to resolve these conflicts.

• When asked whether parents who disagree with their public school curriculum should be allowed to send their children to an alternative school at no cost to their family, 58% said yes. 22% they should not be able to do this, and 20% were unsure.

• Respondents were asked, when hearing about recent conflicts between parents and school boards, do they tend to side with the parents or the school boards. 42% said they side with the parents typically in these conflicts. 28% side with the school boards, and 30% were unsure.

• 67% of respondents believe school districts should be required to have a significant number of parents on their school boards.

• 17% believe they should not be required, and 16% are unsure.

FreedomWorks Foundation maintains a partnership with renowned pollster Scott Rasmussen, working to evaluate the attitudes of Americans and develop messaging that connects with them.