Parent Report Card Shows Teachers Excelling, System Needs Improvement

Parents from diverse political backgrounds express more confidence in their children’s teachers and schools than in the broader national education system. An overwhelming majority of 82% give teachers an ‘A’ or ‘B’ grade for their handling of education this year.

The data stems from a survey conducted by the National Parents Union that surveyed 1,518 parents of K-12 public school students from May 7-11.

Founding president and The 74 contributor Keri Rodrigues highlighted, “Parents continue to hold positive views on schools and teachers. There are encouraging signs that parents remain dedicated to public education, dismissing concerns about a potential shift towards ‘do-it-yourself’ approaches.”

Vouchers, allowing parents to use public funds for private schools, have gained traction in several states recently, while more parents are exploring alternative educational strategies like homeschooling and microschools.

The majority of parents (72%) also expressed trust in their children’s principals and schools in meeting overall expectations.

However, as per the survey named “The Parent Report Card,” confidence declines as parents evaluate the higher levels of the education system. Just over half gave favorable ratings to their superintendents and school boards, a trend that continued downward for state governors (45%), U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona (32%), and President Joe Biden (33%). Biden’s rating is lower than his 37% overall approval rating in a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on June 28.

Rodrigues pointed out the gap between families and those in authority at state and federal levels, emphasizing the importance of engaging with parents and families to bridge the disconnect.

Over the past 25 years of Gallup polling, there has been an average 31 percentage points gap between parents’ favorable views of their child’s education and the national perception. Last year’s survey revealed the second-largest gap on record at 40 points, surpassed only by the 42-point difference in 2000.

Megan Brenan, a senior Gallup researcher, attributed this near-record gap to underlying partisan divisions, with Republicans expressing the lowest satisfaction with the national education system at 25%. This marked the largest historical gap between Democrat and Republican satisfaction, with a 19 percentage point contrast.

Reflecting America’s deep polarization, Brenan noted, “We’re witnessing significant partisan divides across various measures currently.”

As outlined in last year’s Gallup survey, only 36% of Americans are content with K-12 education quality, equating to a record low seen in 2000. Despite this, most parents are content with their oldest child’s education, with over three-quarters reporting satisfaction. The majority also laud their children’s teachers’ performance, with 36% rating it as excellent and 37% as good.

Brenan observed, “Americans tend to perceive national measures more critically than their personal experiences. Similar trends are visible across various domains, indicating a stronger connection to personal circumstances than the national viewpoint.”

Joshua Cowen, an education policy professor at Michigan State University, emphasized the significant role schools play as community centers, influencing people’s protective instincts towards them.

In terms of the impact of these educational perspectives in the upcoming presidential election, Brenan suggested that other issues like immigration and the economy are currently overshadowing education in voters’ priorities.

Highlighting the enduring nature of education as an underlying issue, she stated, “People’s satisfaction with their children’s education might drive their stance, making it uncertain if education will take center stage this year unless other pressing concerns are addressed.”

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