Across the country, education has quietly become a deciding issue for many voters, especially parents. And yet, political leaders seem not to hear the urgency in their voices. Weighing in on the wrong side of this issue could prove politically catastrophic.
Two recent national surveys underscore this point and provide sobering data.
A poll of more than 2,000 K-12 parents conducted in June by Atomik Research and commissioned by Agency Inc. makes the stakes clear: 65% of parents say they would vote outside their party over education, and 62% said education influenced their vote in the most recent statewide election. Parents are not only paying attention, they are prepared to make education their ballot-box priority.
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This sentiment is bipartisan. The same survey found that 67% of Democrats, 67% of Republicans and 70% of independents would cross party lines based on a candidate’s education stance. At a moment when the nation’s politics feels hopelessly polarized, education is one of the rare issues with the power to realign coalitions.
But what parents are demanding is not more of the same. A July poll by Brilliant Corners, commissioned by The Freedom to Choose Schools, found that 71% of respondents rated U.S. public schools as fair or poor, and more than half said they were dissatisfied with their 2024 ballot choices. These voters, too often treated as afterthoughts, are sending a message: Give us elected leaders who prioritize our children’s education, or we will vote for candidates who do.
Many Voters Unhappy with K-12 Education, Would End School Zones, Survey Finds
The data is clear about what worries families most. According to the same poll, 68% said political interference in schools is a bigger threat to quality education than funding gaps or teacher shortages. Black voters in particular are alarmed: 81% cited efforts to erase Black history and bans on diversity, equity and inclusion as major obstacles to a good education.
Parents are not standing still. They are moving their children to new schools, trying homeschooling or seeking tutoring and enrichment to supplement what their schools cannot provide. According to EdChoice and Morning Consult, nearly 1 in 4 parents have switched school types in recent years. This poll, as well as the one commissioned by Agency, reveal that almost 60% of parents have considered or started homeschooling within the past five years.
At the same time, according to the EdChoice/Morning Consult poll, the appetite for real options is overwhelming: 74% of parents support education savings accounts, 67% favor charter schools and 69% believe in open enrollment across school districts. Families are not asking for one solution; they are demanding the ability to choose what works best for their children.
What does this mean for political leaders? The lesson is simple: Parents are loyal to their kids, not to parties. If neither major party fully represents families’ priorities today, the one that presents a bold plan will win their trust and their votes.
Forget Hot-Button Ed Issues — Voters Want Safe Schools and Kids Who Can Read
There is also a warning embedded in this data. When asked what they would do if the education system doesn’t improve, Black and Latino parents said their most likely action was not to opt out of public schools, but to vote for candidates who prioritize school reform and equity. In other words, the door is wide open for bold leaders who put forward credible, family-centered education plans.
So far, too many elected officials have focused on the wrong things. Parents are telling us they want schools that are safe, academically strong and respectful of their children’s identities and histories. They want leaders who expand educational options.
The politics of education are shifting. Parents are frustrated, mobilized and ready to act. The question now is whether political leaders will listen.
If they do, they will find parents ready to support them at the ballot box.
