Poll Shows Nationwide Parental Support for Publicly Funded State-Based Education Programs -- THE Journal

Breaking News

Poll Shows Nationwide Parental Support for Publicly Funded State-Based Education Programs

By Kate Lucariello
11/09/23

A recent nationwide poll by state-based education funding company Odyssey showed that a majority (73%) of parents want access to publicly funded, state-based K–12 education programs. These include Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), microgrants, and other funding.

The poll, commissioned by Odyssey, was conducted by John Zogby Strategies of 2,714 parents of K–12 students 17 and under across nine states where ESAs are relevant. States polled were Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Utah. Surveys were collected from Sept. 1-5, 2023.

Significant findings show that:

In three of the states that do not currently offer ESAs, Alabama, California, and Pennsylvania, over 70% of parents said they wanted such funding available, and 64% said they would apply for it.
Direct digital access to funding and information is preferred by 77% of parents.
Response on ESA eligibility in seconds is preferred by 87% of parents.
The ESA program having a positive impact on their children was reported by 80% of parents.
The majority of parents (80%) said they would prefer to use a computer or mobile device to complete funding applications.

"The results are crystal clear: parents are advocating for more accessible and adaptable education funding options to support their students," said John Zogby, co-founder of John Zogby Strategies, who conducted the poll. "These new findings should show states across the country that education saving accounts and microgrants play a central role in providing parents with the resources they are seeking for their children. On top of that, parents clearly want easy and modern technology tools at their fingertips."

For more information on this poll and to download executive summary, visit the Odyssey poll results page.

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

E-Mail this page

Printable Format

Featured

ED Grant Portal Target of Phishing Campaign

Threat researchers at BforeAI have identified a phishing campaign spoofing the U.S. Department of Education's G5 grant management portal.
The Brain Drain: How Overreliance on AI May Erode Creativity and Critical Thinking

Just as sedentary lifestyles have reshaped our physical health, our dependence on AI, algorithms, and digital tools is reshaping how we think, and the effects aren't always positive.
Pilot Program Fosters AI Literacy in Underserved Youth

A pilot co-led by Operation HOPE and Georgia State University is working to build technical, entrepreneurial, and financial-literacy skills in Atlanta-area youth to help them thrive in the AI-powered workforce.
Survey: Top Education and Budget Challenges for Schools

A recent survey of more than 2,500 educators, school leaders, and district administrators across the country identified the top challenges schools are facing this year. The 2025 National Educator Survey, conducted by PowerSchool, found that teacher shortages and mounting financial uncertainty are persistent pain points across K-12 education.