Boston, Mass. – Parents across the nation are urging policymakers to prioritize educational reforms that offer greater flexibility and diverse options for students, according to a new survey released by the National Parents Union.
The nationwide poll reveals overwhelming support for initiatives aimed at enhancing K-12 education, with parents advocating for measures like career-focused learning, dual-credit classes, and transparent reporting on school performance.
Diverse curriculum options gain support
A vast majority of parents favor offering high school students opportunities to pursue career, technical, and trade skills (94%), and dual-credit classes for college readiness (93%). Additionally, 86% of respondents back mandates for schools to provide transparent data on student achievement, discipline, and enrollment.
Keri Rodrigues, President of the National Parents Union, emphasized the urgency of these reforms:
“To the surprise of absolutely no one, it is parents who are showing policymakers exactly what needs to be done to provide modern families the flexibility and options they need so children can be better engaged in the classroom,” she said.
School enrollment flexibility remains a priority
The poll also highlights strong parental support for policies that expand school choice and accessibility. Measures such as universal enrollment platforms (83%), open enrollment policies (83%), and increased virtual public school options (83%) received significant backing. Meanwhile, 80% support the creation of more non-traditional public schools, like charters and magnets.
Rodrigues stressed the role of adaptability in future economic success:
“The economic mobility of future generations is going to be entirely dependent on whether students have access to an education that is highly personalized and one that adapts to their circumstances, not the other way around.”
Support for education funding flexibility
In a reflection of the demand for educational choice, 71% of parents support using public education funds to allow families to choose their child’s school, including private and religious options.
The survey, conducted online from December 2-6, 2024, gathered responses from 1,529 parents of public school students and has a margin of error of ±2.7 percentage points.
For more insights, visit the National Parents Union website.
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