Spotlight:

What keeps you up at night? Parents are worried about their children’s education, especially as the COVID pandemic continues to create uncertainty in the nation’s classrooms.

2021 Parent Survey Results

Our 2021 statewide survey found that the overarching sentiment among parents was generally positive, but more than two-thirds of parents want to see “a lot” or “some” changes to the state’s public schools. Specifically, most parents surveyed express interest in improving technology investments in public schools, strengthening student supports, and expanding the opportunity to select the school and programs that best fit their child’s needs.

Top findings from the survey include: 

•  84% of parents agree public school funding should be used to ensure that all students attend schools that are modern and equipped with up-to-date technology.

• 8 in 10 parents want more education options to determine the best fit for their child’s education.

• The same percentage of parents (82%) also agree public schools should provide appropriate support services like academic, career, and social and emotional counseling for all students and families.

There’s no doubt parents play an essential role in building a stronger, more effective, and equitable education system - and a lot of work lies ahead in Tennessee as we work to rebuild from the pandemic and create quality learning plans that will help all students get back on track.

In January 2021, Tennessee parent advocates released their top priorities for strengthening K-12 education, including addressing COVID learning loss, improving literacy rates, investing in technology and broadband access, supporting education options, and ensuring accountability in our schools and districts. You can read more about these priorities here.