New national polling by yes. every kid. foundation. shows that voters overwhelmingly believe families and local communities know best, and education decisions should be made by those closest to students. Additionally, when voters understand that reforming the U.S. Department of Education (ED) means transferring its responsibilities, funding, and protections to states and other agencies, a majority support restructuring or closing it.
Why it matters: This runs counter to long-held assumptions in D.C. The political risk isn’t in transformation; it’s in defending the status quo.
Key findings:
- 87% trust parents to make the right decisions for their kids; only 41% trust the federal government.
- Support stands at 56% when voters learn that protections remain and dollars flow directly to states.
- 56% say they’d be disappointed if their representatives blocked such a plan.
What’s driving it: Voters overwhelmingly see ED as bureaucratic, paperwork-heavy, and disconnected from classrooms. They want a system that returns power to families and local communities.
The bottom line:
“Voters are telling Washington something unmistakable: Families, not bureaucrats, should be the center of education decision-making,” said Matt Frendewey, vice president of strategy at yes. every kid. foundation. “When people learn they can keep every dollar, maintain every protection, and still reduce bureaucracy, a majority supports transforming the Department of Education. The appetite for bold, family-first change is larger than D.C. realizes.”
