Only 43 percent of Americans say funding for public schools is “too low” when shown how much public schools spend per pupil in their states.
Only 43 percent of Americans say funding for public schools is “too low” when shown how much public schools spend per pupil in their states.
- This is 15 percentage points lower than when survey participants are not shown the data.
WHY IT MATTERS – The difference suggests that a public education campaign about how much schools are spending could increase the base of support for reform.
THE NUMBERS – A recent EdChoice survey found that when American adults were presented with per-pupil spending in their states’ public schools, they were less likely to say funding is “too low.”
- 43% – say funding is “too low” when shown the statistic
- 58% – say funding is “too low” when not shown the statistic
Other key findings from the survey include:
School choice remains favorable among the general population.
- 55% – Totally favor school choice
- 20% – Totally oppose school choice
- 21% – Never heard of school choice
Private school parents and homeschool parents were most likely to be “very satisfied” with their child’s schooling experience.
- 41%of private school parent – Very satisfied
- 41% of homeschool parents – Very satisfied
- 38% of public charter school parents –Very satisfied
- 28% of traditional public-school parents – Very satisfied
The percentage of Americans who say education in America is heading in the right direction has dropped 15% since 2021.
- 70% – Say heading in the wrong direction
- 27% – Say heading in the right direction
- 3% – Skipped/Refused/Don’t Know
BOTTOM LINE – Americans’ views on public education are shifting about funding, school choice, and whether K-12 education is heading in the right direction.
GO DEEPER –
EdChoice – The Top 10 Findings from EdChoice’s 2023 Schooling in America Survey Series