As We Near Election Day, Politicians Should Listen to What Parents Are Saying about Public Education
By Myrna Castrejón, President & CEO, California Charter Schools Association
In the coming days, voters will begin to cast their ballots for who they want to have represent them at all levels of government, including statewide and local elected offices. Not only are voters concerned about the direction of the economy, but as we emerge from the pandemic, there is an increased concern about the state of public education across the nation. State and national research finds that voters, particularly parents, want more choices for their child’s education and are paying close attention to what candidates are saying about education policy.
No doubt, the pandemic re-engaged parents in their child’s education. Over the last year, as schools reopened, I have heard from parents who want to continue and build on that engagement to be closer partners with educators.
For candidates and incumbent elected officials, this presents a great opportunity to talk about education and ways that we all can strengthen and reimagine public education. A set of polls, one by the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) and another by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS), provide elected officials a road map. These polls reflect exactly what parents and voters in California and across the nation want to see in public education.
The results were clear.
In CCSA’s poll, conducted by Goodwin Simon Strategic Research, nearly six in ten parents say public education in California needs “major changes” in the wake of the pandemic. Sixty-five percent of parents say they have too little influence over California public schools, and 72 percent of parents say they “should have more public school choices.”
The NAPCS poll, conducted by The Harris Poll, mirrored those findings on a national scale showing that parents across the U.S. value choice. Ninety-three percent agree that one size does not fit all in public education, and 86 percent want options other than the school assigned to them because of their address.
The results showed that a wide majority of parents — 83 percent — believe that education has become a more important political issue to them than it was in the past, and 82 percent of parents would be willing to vote outside their political party based on the candidate’s education platform.
For parents who vote in both federal and state/local elections, education is the second most important issue, exceeded only by taxes.
This should be a wakeup call for everyone who has a role in the future of California’s education sector, especially those that are running for office.
As President and CEO of California’s leading charter public school advocacy organization, I’ve heard heart-felt stories from parents who are disillusioned with public education today and are exploring new possibilities.
In Los Angeles and the Bay Area, parents are seeking inter-district transfers because they believe the loss in instructional days due to school closures set their kids one to two grades behind in reading and writing, and they have no confidence that the public officials leading the school district they reside in can ensure their children will catch up.
In the Central Valley and Inland Empire, Spanish-speaking families, who are suffering from the educational inequities laid bare by the pandemic, are exploring homeschool programs or nonclassroom-based schools — options traditionally considered to attract only white or rural families.
And in Orange County, I’ve answered a myriad of questions from families who are eager for change and are turning to charter public schools, resulting in a seven percent increase in charter school enrollment in that region compared to last year, one of the largest increases in California.
What I used to witness as regional pockets of disillusionment is now a statewide norm. These are parents that are making choices in education that they had not even considered before. We are observing that parents are more open to charters for their child’s education.
Nationally, 84 percent of parents agree that charters should be available to families who would choose them. Nearly 3 in 4 parents would consider sending their child to a charter if one were available in their area.
In California, parents support charters schools by 70 percent — a 14-point increase over last year! Sixty-four percent of parents say they would consider enrolling their children in a charter, including 76 percent of Spanish-speaking parents.
This support for charters continues to increase in communities across the state. In San Diego, support has increased to 64 percent this year, up from 50 percent in 2020. In Riverside and San Bernardino counties, support has grown to 58 percent, up nine points from 2020. Sacramento has also seen a six percent increase over that time to 62 percent.
Politicians on both sides of the aisle should take heed — parents vote! These two polls clearly show that parents are calling for major change, more influence, and more diverse public school choices.
And to parents — as you look over your ballot and make decisions on who to vote for, look to candidates who are talking about real change in public education and about protecting families’ freedom to choose the best educational option that provides your children the best path to succeed.
