Parent Poll 2024: Survey of Missouri and Arkansas Parents on Education Topics
By Abigail Medler and Taylor Wilson
In this report, we analyze the results of a survey sent out to 900 Missouri and Arkansas parents asking them their opinions about four-day school weeks, homeschooling, college likelihood, teacher salaries and entering the workforce, and school vouchers
Key Points
The PRiME Center at Saint Louis University and the Office of Education Policy at the University of Arkansas commissioned YouGov to survey 900 Missouri and Arkansas parents of school-aged children to find out what they think about the education issues facing their communities. The poll was administered from May 16 to June 3, 2024.
Among parents at both 4-day school week (4DSW) and 5-day school week (5DSW) districts, just over half support the implementation of a four-day school week. Less than 1 in 4 respondents from either a 4DSW or a 5DSW district believed student outcomes worsened or would be worsened by the adoption of a four-day school week.
Approximately 9% of surveyed parents homeschool their children, with the primary motivations being concerns over physical and emotional safety in traditional schools, dissatisfaction with academic standards, and a desire for greater control over moral and religious education.
Between four and six out of ten public school students in Missouri or Arkansas will attend some college after graduation, and almost nine in ten parents believe their child will.
Many Missouri and Arkansas parents believe the average and minimum teacher salaries for teachers in their child’s school are between $20K and $39K. In reality, minimum teacher salaries in MO and AR have been raised in the last couple of years to $40 and $50K, respectively.
Most Missouri parents favor the passage of Senate Bill 727, nine in ten support an Education Savings Account (ESA) program, and two-thirds of respondents believe ESAs should be available to all students.
The introduction of Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) in Arkansas has strong support, with 85% of parents in favor. Many parents are likely to use an EFA for homeschooling or private schooling, although concerns remain about public school funding and equity.