Poll shows majority of Americans prioritize workforce preparation and hiring teachers in next president’s agenda.

Welcome to The 74’s EDlection 2024 coverage, focusing on candidates’ education policies and their potential impact on the American education system post-2024 election.

As the nation heads into a contentious election, a recent survey indicates that Americans overwhelmingly concur that the forthcoming president should prioritize two key areas in education: preparing students for careers and attracting and retaining top-notch teachers.

“There are key priorities that enjoy broad support from a significant number of Americans across party lines,” noted James Lane, CEO of the educator professional group PDK International, which conducts the annual survey. “Understanding these areas of consensus could present significant opportunities for success for any federal office candidate.”

While consensus exists on these priorities, stark partisan differences emerge on issues ranging from student mental health to college affordability. The survey highlights that 86% of Democrats advocate for the next administration to address mental health and make college more affordable, a view shared by fewer than two-thirds of Republicans.

Diverging views also appear regarding Washington’s role in education. Former President Donald Trump advocates for dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, promoting universal private school choice, and emphasizing patriotism in schools. In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris’s priorities include tighter regulation on charter schools, expanding universal pre-K, and enhancing the child tax credit to offer up to $6,000 for families with newborns.

Only 45% of Americans approve of the Biden administration’s handling of education policy, mirroring the approval rating given to Trump in 2020. However, less than one-third express trust in Trump’s education plans if he regains office in November, with uncertainties surrounding the potential Harris-Walz administration.

Lane, a former acting assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education at the U.S. Department of Education under the Biden administration, refrained from commenting on the president’s education track record. He noted that attitudes toward candidates might have shifted slightly had the poll been conducted post-Harris’s nomination, but the major issue stances are likely unchanged.

The significant partisan disparities are surprising considering that many education issues lack straightforward partisan alignments, as highlighted by David Houston, an education professor at George Mason University. While public pre-K enjoys bipartisan support at the state level, Democrats place higher priority on federal involvement in expanding access compared to Republicans.

The survey also reveals that 54% of Americans overall, and 70% of public school parents, view education as extremely or very important in the upcoming presidential election, although Houston remains skeptical about education being the decisive voter issue. However, he acknowledges that it could sway votes in a close race.

Analysis among over 1,000 respondents also exposes marked racial differences in views on various education policy areas, including boosting student performance, addressing mental health, and reducing college expenses, with greater support from Black respondents compared to whites.

Though absent from the Trump platform, a controversial plan for a potential second term released by the Heritage Foundation proposes eliminating Head Start. Concurrently, while universal preschool remains in the Democratic platform, Biden faced obstacles in gaining Congressional backing for the initiative in 2020.

Attitudes Toward Charters

On the issue of charter school expansion, less than half of Americans (35%) advocate for a greater federal role, revealing decreasing Republican interest and mixed Democratic perspectives due to concerns about the impact on traditional school settings.

Enrollment trends, however, show continued growth in charter schools, emphasizing parental demand for diverse public school choices, as noted by Sonia Park, executive director of the Diverse Charter Schools Coalition.

The Democratic platform pledges to uphold the Biden administration’s stance on charter policy, linking additional federal funding for charter expansions with districts’ equitable service to underserved students.

Harrowing Results on Teaching

With Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a former educator, as Vice President Harris’s running mate, education is poised to be a prominent focus during the campaign. However, concerns persist regarding ongoing challenges in the teaching workforce, exacerbated by expiring relief funds, teacher layoffs, and staff vacancies.

Newly introduced in the survey is the public’s perspective on AI in education, with mixed reactions to AI’s role in tutoring, test preparation, and lesson planning. Notably, 60% support AI for tutoring but less favor AI assistance for homework.

PDK International, emphasizing teaching, includes a question in its poll about parental support for their children pursuing a teaching career, reflecting declining interest possibly stemming from low salaries in the profession.

Only 40% of parents today endorse their children becoming teachers, citing concerns about insufficient compensation, underscoring the pressing need to address salary disparities and enhance the profession’s appeal.

“The fact that 60% wouldn’t recommend a teaching career to their children is concerning, given our educational imperatives,” Lane remarked, signaling critical challenges in the teaching sector.