Pew Research recently released a study showing that over three-in-five Americans (62%) believe our country’s response to COVID-19 paid too little attention to meeting the academic needs of K-12 students.

To add to concerns about public K-12 school, over half of registered voters believe schools are doing a subpar job at teaching the critical topics of history, economics and civics according to new State Voices polling data from SPN.

Economics, World History, Civics and American History are subjects Americans believe we are failing to teach well in public schools. These are critical subjects for helping students understand and navigate the world around them. To add to the problems, less than half of Americans feel these topics are being taught in a relatable way.

Network groups are fighting to change this

SPN’s Week in Review newsletter recently highlighted the great work and thought leadership network groups are doing to improve education, so it meets the needs and expectations of the American public.

• The Supreme Court ruled in Carson v. Makin that a parental choice program in Maine cannot exclude religious schools.

• The Arizona House passed a bill that would expand its ESA program to universal eligibility. 

• The Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee approved a bill to extend Lifeline Scholarships to students in underperforming school districts. The Commonwealth Foundation noted Lifeline Scholarships would give students in the lowest-performing public schools a modest portion of the per-pupil education funding to use on educational expenses, such as tuition, curriculum, and tutoring.

Education is on the minds of the American people and state groups are stepping up with innovative solutions to address the gaps.