A national survey by yes. every kid. foundation. reveals widespread dissatisfaction with K-12 education and strong support for local decision-making and flexibility in funding.
What voters are saying:
- Voters believe education is off track. By nearly 2:1, voters say K-12 education is headed in the wrong direction (56% vs. 31%).
- Republicans have an opportunity to lead on education. While Democrats have historically been more trusted on education, the gap is closing: 47% of voters now favor Democrats, while 42% trust Republicans on the issue.
- Local control matters. Three-quarters of voters believe the federal government should fund schools, but only 28% think it should dictate spending. Only 12% cite the U.S. Department of Education as who they trust most to decide how federal K-12 education money is spent.
- There is support for federal block granting K-12 funds. A majority (55%) favor block granting federal funds to states. Support grows to 59% with more information.
- Public school open enrollment is immensely popular. With 58% in favor, nearly twice as many voters support ending assigned school zones as those opposed, saying every child should access the best public school for them.
“Voters want less federal control and more flexibility in education,” said Matt Frendewey, vice president, yes. every kid. foundation. “They trust states, communities, and families—not Washington—to make the right choices for students. This is a call to create policies that empower families and give every child the opportunity to thrive.”
