Poll: More than half of parents support limiting Department of Education’s influence

New polling from Parents Defending Education shows that 52% of parents and 52% of specifically Catholic parents support reducing the power the U.S. Department of Education has over their children’s education.

Parents Defending Education is a national nonpartisan organization that combats agendas and politicization in schools. The poll surveyed 1,000 parents in December 2024, asking them about their views about the Department and topics like antisemitism, critical race theory, and gender ideology within the school setting.

In addition to reducing the size and power of the Department most respondents were also in favor of changing the Department to allow more flexibility over school districts at a state level (77%). Republicans were more likely than Democrats were to favor reducing the Department’s influence (67% vs. 29%) and were again more likely to support individual states’ power over schooling (85% vs. 67%).

The poll also provided statistics on Catholic parents’ views on education. Roughly eight in 10 Catholics supported the Department allowing flexibility in school districts in individual states, and about half of Catholics said that the Department currently uses its resources appropriately “to help advance the education of students across America.”

Read more…