IN THE NEWS: A new Gallup poll finds that Americans’ satisfaction with K-12 education has hit its lowest point in 27 years of tracking.
THE BIG THING: Only 32% of Americans say they’re satisfied with the quality of K-12 education nationally, the lowest number Gallup has recorded since it started asking the question in 1999.
BY THE NUMBERS:
- 32% satisfied with K-12 education nationally, a new low
- 66% of parents satisfied with their own child’s education, also a new low for that measure, but roughly double the national figure
- 20% say schools do a good or excellent job teaching critical thinking and problem-solving, the weakest of six skills Gallup measured
THE BOTTOM LINE: Not every school works for every family.
WHAT TO KNOW NOW: Starting January 1, 2027, the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC) will expand education options for families nationwide. Donors receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for contributions to qualified Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs), which fund K-12 scholarships for tuition, fees, tutoring and other qualified expenses. Approximately 90% of American students are expected to be eligible, in every state that takes part.
National polling firm Gallup has asked Americans about their satisfaction with K-12 education every year since 1999. This year’s 32% is the lowest result yet, down 11 points in two years. Dissatisfaction, at 67%, is the highest Gallup has ever measured.
Ask people about their own child’s school, though, and the answer changes. Two-thirds of parents say they’re satisfied with their own child’s education. That’s a low point for that measure too, but it isn’t close to the national mood, and Gallup has found some version of that same gap in most of the 27 years it has asked the question.
The difference may come down to what people are actually being asked to judge. Parents know their child’s teacher and classroom. They see the report card, and they know whether their kid comes home excited about school or worn down by it.
They can tell whether their school is working for their child.
Be the First to Know
Get notified when the Education Freedom Tax Credit launches so you don’t miss the opportunity to support K–12 students while benefiting from a federal tax credit.
What happens when the school that works for one child isn’t the right fit for another?
For families who need a different option, the answer has historically depended a lot on where they live. Roughly half of U.S. states have built some version of a voucher, tax-credit scholarship or Education Savings Account. In the rest, families have had fewer publicly supported ways to choose something different.
Allen Thompson knows what that wait can look like.
His mother believed a public magnet school program was the best shot her two kids had at a strong education, so she applied for both of them. His sister got in. Allen didn’t, and he spent four years on the waitlist while his mother drove two separate school routes every morning to get both kids where they needed to be.
When Allen’s spot finally opened up in fifth grade, the transition wasn’t easy either. He struggled at first and fell behind, until his sister and mother worked with him night after night to close the gap. He finished the program stronger than when he started, went on to take advanced coursework as a student athlete, and today teaches sixth grade himself, helping students who remind him of who he used to be. Read more about Allen Thompson’s story.
The magnet program was the right fit for Allen, once he finally got a seat. It wouldn’t be the right fit for every child, and it doesn’t need to be. Different kids need different things from their education, and right now, getting to the option that actually fits often comes down to a ZIP code or a four-year wait for a lottery number.
The EFTC adds a new way to fund those options beginning in 2027. The program isn’t live yet. Eligibility rules and donations begin January 1, 2027. Families who want to understand where they stand can review the current eligibility guidance in the meantime.
How the EFTC works
The mechanics matter, so here is the exact sequence:
- Step 1: You donate. You make a charitable contribution to a qualified SGO, a nonprofit that turns donations into K-12 scholarships for tuition, fees, tutoring, and other qualified expenses.
- Step 2: You earn a credit. That donation generates a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700. This is a credit, not a deduction. It reduces what you owe the IRS dollar for dollar.
- Step 3: You claim it when you file. You give first. The credit, up to $1,700, comes back when you file your federal return.
Donations begin in 2027, and the credit for those donations comes back on the return you file in 2028. Scholarships funded this way can reach families in every state that participates. Approximately 90% of American students meet the scholarship eligibility criteria.
