Winning the argument on school curriculum.
By a margin of 77-16, Americans support state and local efforts to require transparency in school curriculum and instructional materials.
- Most Americans also support efforts to ensure school materials and curriculum are age-appropriate.
Curriculum controversies have erupted throughout the country, as state and local school boards have enacted curriculum reforms to address parent concerns over sexually explicit books and other learning materials being used in schools.
- LGBTQ+ groups and teachers’ unions oppose many of these reforms.
HOW TO USE THIS DATA – Candidates who support laws ensuring that school curriculum is transparent and age-appropriate can use this issue as a magnet, to attract new voters, and wedge, to divide support for their opponents.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Nearly 8-in-10 Americans support state and local efforts to ensure curriculum transparency in schools.
- This includes majority support from all parties, races, and age groups.
- More than 6-in-10 Americans support state and local efforts to prevent sexually explicit and pornographic material from being used in schools.
- More than 6-in-10 Americans also support state and local efforts to prevent discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation until after the third grade.
BOTTOM LINE – Significant majorities of Americans believe parents should have total visibility into what happens in classrooms and support efforts to ensure school curriculum and materials are age-appropriate.
READ THE REPORT – Click on the image below to view the slideshow or continue to read highlights of the results in the body of the article.
STRONG SUPPORT FOR CURRICULUM TRANSPARENCY – The poll of 2,000 likely voters, conducted by McLaughlin and Associates June 8-11, 2023, asked participants:
“Do you support or oppose efforts by state lawmakers and school boards to require transparency in the selection of classroom instructional materials, including library and reading materials, so parents know what their children are being taught?”
- 49%– Strongly support
- 28% – Somewhat support
- 10% – Somewhat oppose
- 6% – Strongly oppose
Those most likely to “strongly support” curriculum transparency include:
- 68% – Republicans
- 53% – Baby Boomers+
- 52% – Gen X
6-IN-10 SUPPORT ENSURING CURRICULUM IS AGE-APPROPRIATE – Participants were also asked:
“Do you support or oppose efforts by state lawmakers and school boards to prevent books containing sexually explicit and pornographic material from being used in school classrooms and libraries?”
- 41%– Strongly support
- 21% – Somewhat support
- 14% – Somewhat oppose
- 16% – Strongly oppose
“Do you support or oppose efforts by state lawmakers and school boards to prevent discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity until after the third grade?”
- 43% – Strongly support
- 20% – Somewhat support
- 12% – Somewhat oppose
- 18% – Strongly oppose
This national survey of 2,000 people was conducted from June 8-11, 2023 by McLaughlin & Associates for America’s New Majority Project and has a margin of error of 2.2%.