SLU/YouGov Poll: February 2025 Education Results

Written By SLU PRiME

Abigail Medler, MPA

Since 2020, SLU has partnered with YouGov to poll Missouri likely voters on relevant political and education-related issues. In this brief, we dive into the results, focusing specifically on the education questions posed to voters in the Spring 2025 iteration of the survey.

Key Points:

1. Quality of Schools:

  • There has been a decline in likely voters’ opinions of public schools overall, and a consistently higher opinion of schools in respondents’ own neighborhoods, as compared to their perception of all Missouri public schools

2. High School Start Times

  • Likely voters believe Missouri public high schools start at 7:43 a.m., but should start closer to 8:08, on average

  • Most Missouri likely voters are NOT resistant to moving back school start times.

3. Technology in the Classroom

  • Providing personal laptops/tablets for classroom use more favorable for older students.

  • A large majority of respondents favor allowing schools to prohibit students from using A.I., cell phones, and social media.

4. Curriculum

  • ‘The Importance of the Right to Free Speech’ and ‘Social Media’s Negative Effects on Mental Health’ among Missouri voters’ most favorable topics to be taught in Missouri public schools

5. The Department of Education

  • The majority of Missouri likely voters oppose the elimination of The Department of Education

6. Charter Schools & School Choice

  • A majority of likely voters unsure if Missouri has an Education Savings Account, but a majority support it.

  • A majority of likely voters would describe charter schools as private schools, are unsure where they operate, and favor their operation in respondents’ own school district and in all parts of the state.

7. Teacher Qualifications

  • A majority of likely voters believe Missouri public school teachers should have at least a Bachelor’s degree.

8. Education Policies

  • More than two thirds of Missouri likely voters believe six-year-old children are currently required to attend school, and nine in ten would support such a measure.

  • A majority of respondents favor students receiving the Polio vaccine and free meals, regardless of income.

Please Cite As: Medler, A. (2025). SLU/YouGov poll: February 2025 results. Policy Research in Missouri Education, 7(11). www.primecenter.org/policy-brief-database/february-2025-poll

SLU PRiME
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