What do voters say will fix the country's schools? Focus on core subjects

(The Center Square) – A renewed focus on math, science, reading and social studies is the best way to improve education in the U.S., a plurality of voters say, according to a new poll.

According to The Center Square’s Voter’s Voice Poll conducted by Noble Predictive Insights, 39% of likely voters said focusing on these core subjects would “do the most to improve public education in America.” Paying teachers more came in second.

According to David Byler, chief of research at Noble Predictive Insights, the poll was designed to understand what voters say is the number one thing that would help improve the educational system.

“And honestly, the results were very clear: They think schools should focus on core subject areas,” Byler said. “You see some level of support for this across all kinds of different demographics where people want their kids to be able to do math, read, write and understand the world.”

“That's what they want out of schools,” Byler said.

The poll shows that despite the other listed reforms like shortening summer break, reducing class sizes, or focusing on social and emotional skills, 39% of voters picked focusing on math, science, reading and social studies.

The second one is ‘pay teachers more,’” Byler said. “This is no surprise to me. Teachers are doing a really hard job, and they don't get paid a lot. And people think that they should be paid more. It's pretty simple.”

“You see some partisan divide on this,” Byler said. “Democrats are about twice as likely to say this is the number one reform than Republicans.”

Reducing classroom sizes and providing alternatives to public schools were the next most recommended measures, but Byler said the majority of Americans back focusing on core issues and paying teachers more.

“You have something like six in 10 Americans saying this is their preferred solution,” Byler said. “So in some ways, if you're just asking the public what they want, the answer is straightforward: Spend more time on the key subjects and more money on teachers.”

Younger voters, ages 18-34, were more likely to recommend paying teachers more than focusing on core issues, with 31% listing teacher pay as their number one issue.

Byler said that it makes sense that older voters are more likely to say schools need to focus on the core issues because those closer to school age would say what they just completed was difficult. As the age of respondents increased, so did the likelihood that they would say schools need to focus on core subjects.

Byler also said the age divide is a general partisan divide, with older respondents more likely to be Republican.

More than any other demographic, 51% of true independents said focusing on core topics was the best way to improve the nation’s education system.