K12 education has undergone significant change over the past several years. One primary driver of this change is the continued and sometimes overreaching presence of politics in the classroom, an issue that has driven both teachers and education leaders away from the profession for good.
Over the years, extensive research has uncovered the pandemic’s impact on student learning, the teaching profession and other important aspects that make up K12 education. One area of study in particular delves into the partisan nature of education today, from controversies surrounding sensitive topics in the classroom to school safety reform, the points of contention are seemingly endless.
But how did this divide transpire? Last week, the Pew Research Center compiled a list of recent surveys and analyses from 2021-2023 that offer some insight into how K12 education reached its current state, specifically how it resulted in several partisan divides.
Here’s a look at the data they gathered:
Bipartisan split surrounding K12 education and its impact (October 2022)
In this survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, nearly seven-in-ten Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents said that public schools had a positive effect on the “way things were going” across the nation. Conversely, 61% of Republicans and GOP-leaning respondents said they believed they were having a negative effect.
Perceptions of the U.S. Department of Education (March 2023)
Similar to the previous survey, most Democrats (62%) hold positive views toward the Education Department, whereas 65% of Republicans reported “unfavorable” views toward it.
Where parties seek reform
Soon after the survey was conducted, Republican lawmakers criticized the Department’s priorities during a House Committee on Education and the Workforce hearing, according to the Pew Research Center. They confronted U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona about several prominent issues, including topics such as transgender students’ participation in K12 sports and instruction surrounding race-related topics. Democratic lawmakers, on the other hand, heavily focused on school shootings and school safety issues.
Thoughts and perceptions of K12 principals (December 2021)
Researchers asked the public about their confidence levels in their local K12 principals, which were split along party lines. More than three-fourths of Democrats showed a “fair amount” of confidence in their K12 principals and their efforts to act in the best interest of the community.
On the other hand, just over half (52%) of Republicans shared this feeling. Additionally, 47% of them reported having not too much or no confidence at all in principals, compared to just one-fourth of Democrats.
Where parties seek reform
Several prominent issues point to this lack of trust in America’s principals, recent surveys suggest, including topics like:
- Pandemic-related policy reform
- School curriculums
- School closures during the pandemic
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Who should control the curriculum? (Fall 2022)
Classroom discussion has become a hot-button issue among education leaders and teachers alike, in addition to another important stakeholder: parents. In this survey, the researchers found that Republican and Democratic parents disagree over how great a role governments and school boards should have on what public schools teach.
According to the data, 52% of Republican parents said they think the federal government has “too much” influence on what their child’s school is teaching, compared to merely 20% of Democratic parents. Similarly, 41% of Republicans said their state governments and local school board (30%) play too much of a role, compared to their respective counterparts (28% and 17%).
Where parties seek reform
While opinions vary, much of the conversation stems from whether parents or teachers deserve to have the final say in what’s being taught in the classroom. For instance:
- 44% of Republican parents said they don’t have enough control over what’s being taught, compared to 23% of Democrats.
- 35% of Democrats believe teachers deserve more control, compared to 25% of Republicans.
Deciding which topics are relevant to the curriculum (Fall 2022)
Similar to the previous survey, respondents were asked to provide their opinions on which sensitive topics they believe are a crucial component of their child’s curriculum. For instance, nearly nine-in-ten parents overall believed that their children should be taught about slavery. However, nearly 66% of Republican parents would rather their children understand that slavery is in fact a part of American history, however, it doesn’t affect the current situation of Black people in society today.
Comparably, 70% of Democratic parents felt the opposite. They prefer their children to understand the legacy of slavery and how it continues to impact Black people today.
Religion in public schools (October 2022)
Religion in K12 schools has been a point of contingency for years. According to this study, the majority (59%) of Republican parents believe it has a place in public schools. For instance, they believe teachers should be allowed to lead students in Christian prayers. On the other hand, 63% of Democratic parents disagreed.
Where parties seek reform
Several Republican-led efforts have already begun to ensure religion maintains a role in K12 education. For instance, in June 2022, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a football coach who prayed with players after games. Texas lawmakers also implemented several bills this last legislative session that would allow for an increased presence of religion in public schools across the state.
School mission statements lack mentions of diversity and SEL in Republican areas (April 2023)
This survey sought to uncover the political nature of public schools themselves as evident in their mission statements. According to the data, Democratic-leaning areas (defined as areas where the majority of residents voted Democratic in the 2020 election) were at least twice as likely than Republican areas to include words like “diversity,” “equity” and “inclusion” in their mission statements.
Where parties agree
However, there were several instances where mission statements were quite similar, regardless of where the school was located. In both Democratic and Republic areas, mentions of students’ future readiness, parent involvement and fostering a safe and healthy school culture were apparent.
Click here for a more in-depth look at these studies from the Pew Research Center.
