United in Demanding Change, Divided on How to Achieve It

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Parents who can afford tuition at private schools are increasingly eager to remove their children from the public education system. Most American students, however, continue to rely on our country’s ailing public schools. A nationally representative poll conducted by YouGov/Polimetrix for the Economist revealed popular discontent with public education in the United States but divergent opinions on how to bring about reform.

Very few respondents said they would rank American public schools alongside Europe’s top institutions. Meanwhile, an overwhelming number of you regard U.S. public education as below average.

Where do you think American public schools rank when compared to schools in Europe?

A majority of you were at least somewhat dissatisfied with the quality of education in the U.S.

How satisfied are you with the quality of education students receive in schools in the U.S. today?

Interestingly, more respondents were concerned with a lack of parental involvement in public schools than with a lack of funding.

What do you think is the most important problem facing public education in the U.S. today?

People tended to think that their own political parties would best handle education reform.

Overall, which political party do you think will do a better job handling the issue of education?

Respondents generally favored an aggressive approach to reform, with even a sizeable number of Republicans favoring increased public funding for teachers’ salaries and vouchers. Few people endorsed bolstering mayoral control over public schools, while many respondents said they would like there to be more charter schools. These trends suggest a bipartisan desire to grant schools more autonomy.

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