Since Governor Glenn Youngkin’s victory in Virginia, it has been increasingly evident that the issue of parental rights in education can unite voters across political lines, even attracting support from moderates and Biden voters for a Republican candidate. While anecdotal evidence, like the ousting of three progressive school board members in deep-blue San Francisco, has provided some insight, there was little statistical data to measure the full scope of bipartisan support—until now.
Twelve years ago, my organization, ParentalRights.org, commissioned a Zogby poll to gauge the public’s stance on parental rights. We asked a simple, yet powerful question: “In general, parents have the constitutional right to make decisions for their children without government interference unless there is proof of abuse or neglect. Do you agree or disagree with this view of parental rights?”
At the time, an overwhelming 93.6% of respondents either strongly agreed or somewhat agreed with the statement.
However, that was 2010, and in politics—just as in life—twelve years can make a world of difference. So, what does public opinion on this issue look like today?
To answer that question, the Parental Rights Foundation partnered with Heart and Mind Strategies last month to conduct another national survey asking the same question from our 2010 poll. The results were encouraging: 83% of Americans still agree with the statement, with 51% strongly agreeing. Only 10% disagreed, and just 3% strongly disagreed. Only 6% of respondents were unsure.
From this survey, three key takeaways emerge:
- Parental rights remain widely supported. Few issues manage to unite voters from opposite sides of the political spectrum, but the desire for parents to have a say in their children’s education and upbringing is one such issue. Whether conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat, most Americans agree on this fundamental right.
- Support for parental rights is slightly waning. While the 83% agreement rate is still substantial, it represents a decline from the 94% support found in 2010. This shift—though small—should serve as a reminder of the urgency to protect parental rights through legislation. As we face growing bureaucratic interference in the raising of children, it is more critical than ever to ensure that parents, not bureaucrats, are empowered to make decisions about their children’s well-being.
- The need for action is clear. Many politicians claim to support parental rights, but when the time comes to act, they often bow to the pressures of well-funded special interest groups. These politicians may talk a good game, but they often let parents down when it counts. It’s time to ensure that our elected officials see the overwhelming support for parental rights, as demonstrated by this survey, and take bold steps to protect these rights.
The message is clear: parental rights are vital, and public support for them remains strong. But the battle to preserve these rights is far from over. It’s up to all of us to keep fighting to ensure that parents, not government officials or outside forces, are the ones making decisions about their children’s futures.