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.

Featured

  • cloud icon with a padlock overlay set against a digital background featuring binary code and network nodes

    Cloud Security Auditing Tool Uses AI to Validate Providers' Security Assessments

    The Cloud Security Alliance has unveiled a new artificial intelligence-powered system that automates the validation of cloud service providers' (CSPs) security assessments, aiming to improve transparency and trust across the cloud computing landscape.

  • stack of gold coins disintegrates into digital particles against a dark circuit-board background with glowing AI imagery

    Report: Most Organizations See No Business Return on Gen AI Investments

    Despite $30-40 billion in enterprise spending on generative AI, 95% of organizations are seeing no business return, according to a recent report out of the MIT Media Lab.

  • stylized illustration of a desktop, laptop, tablet, and smartphone all displaying an orange AI icon

    Survey: AI Shifting from Cloud to PCs

    A recent Intel-commissioned report identifies a significant shift in AI adoption, moving away from the cloud and closer to the user. Businesses are increasingly turning to the specialized hardware of AI PCs, the survey found, recognizing their potential not just for productivity gains, but for revolutionizing IT efficiency, fortifying data security, and delivering a compelling return on investment by bringing AI capabilities directly to the edge.

  • student holding a smartphone with thumbs-up and thumbs-down icons, surrounded by abstract digital media symbols and interface elements

    Teaching Media Literacy? Start by Teaching Decision-Making

    Decision-making is a skill that must be developed — not assumed. Students need opportunities to learn the tools and practices of effective decision-making so they can apply what they know in meaningful, real-world contexts.