​​Americans don’t trust feds in K-12 decisions, survey shows

Since taking office in 2025, President Donald Trump has made efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. While education officials have pushed back, for concerns over potential federal funding cuts, the administration has continued taking steps to return more authority to the states.

According to the survey, 76% of respondents agree that K-12 schools should be held accountable to parents, with 89% of Republicans and 67% of Democrats in agreement.

Matt Frendeway, vice president of strategy at Yes. Every Kid. Foundation, said many Americans lack a clear understanding of the U.S. Department of Education’s role, which can lead to misconceptions.

The report indicates that 56% of respondents do not trust the federal government to make K-12 decisions for their communities. While 59% trust their state government, an overwhelming 87% said parents and families should have the primary role in education decision-making.

Once you explain to voters what dismantling the department would look like, the opposition shifts in support, pointing to low federal trust and a desire to shift power back to parents and states, according to the foundation.

Support stands at 56% when voters are informed that federal education protections would remain in place and funding would continue to flow directly to states, according to the foundation. Many respondents cited bureaucracy as a major concern.

“The more folks understand there is a plan in place to dismantle it and do so in a responsible manner, I suspect that you’ll see much more American support returning power to the states,” Frendeway told The Center Square during the briefing.

Voters described the Department of Education as bureaucratic and disconnected from classrooms, expressing a preference for a system that places greater control in the hands of families and local communities.