New Survey Finds Parents Divided on Eliminating Department of Education but United in Desire for Change
Outschool Calls for More Personalized Learning Choices as Survey Shows Overwhelming Desire for Educational Reform as well as Parental Fears about the Use of AI in Education
San Francisco, CA — March 20, 2025 — A new survey from leading online education platform Outschool, conducted by ResearchScape International in March 2025, reveals that while parents across the U.S. are divided about eliminating the Department of Education, they are overwhelmingly united in their belief that the traditional education system is failing to meet their children’s needs. The survey polled 1,065 U.S. parents of children aged 5-18, highlighting an apparent demand for more personalized learning and greater parental control over their children's education.
According to the survey, 48% of parents disapprove of dismantling the Department of Education, with 31% strongly disapproving. However, 36% of parents approve to some degree, with men (23%) more likely than women (13%) to strongly approve of dismantling the Department. Support for the idea is notably higher among younger generations and Republicans, with 40% of Republicans favoring the dismantling compared to only 19% of Democrats.
Despite differing views on federal oversight, 81% of parents agree that the traditional education model needs to be reimagined for more personalized learning. Gen Z parents are the most likely to agree, with 83% expressing support for a more customized educational approach.
“Education is changing, and families deserve better options,” said Amir Nathoo, CEO of Outschool. “What matters most is a child’s engagement and love of learning. Studies have shown that intrinsic motivation, which drives genuine curiosity and creativity, significantly declines as children progress through the school system. This decline is tied to outdated assessment models that value rote memorization over meaningful engagement. Parents deserve the ability to design an education as unique as their child.”
Parents are increasingly concerned about the limitations of the current system. Their top concerns include bullying and social issues, poor academic achievement, and school shootings and violence. 82% of parents indicated that if made available, they would utilize school choice funding if it was available in their state; it’s clear that families are eager for alternatives.
The survey also shows strong support for state-funded Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), grants, and scholarships, with 48% of parents believing they help afford alternatives to public school and 46% saying they expand children’s learning beyond the classroom.
When asked about education technology, parents had mixed feelings about artificial intelligence's burgeoning role. 63% of parents believe education technology has been beneficial but are less enthusiastic about AI's role in education. Men were more supportive of ed tech in general with 71% vs 57% of women saying it had been beneficial thus far in their child’s education. While 39% are concerned about AI's influence, 36% feel it’s essential to establish clear standards for AI use, and 35% are concerned about how AI makes cheating and plagiarism easier for kids; however, 34% are excited about the potential advancements AI may bring.
Outschool offers a solution to the current educational crisis with a global platform of live, interactive classes and personalized tutoring that caters to each child’s passions, strengths, and ambitions. By removing traditional education's “one-size-fits-all” approach, Outschool empowers families to design an education that truly meets their child's needs.
Visit www.outschool.com for more information about Outschool and how it’s transforming learning for children aged 3 to 18.
About Outschool:
Outschool offers live and asynchronous online education experiences that connect real-life teachers with learners in small-group settings to explore everything from Minecraft, Pokemon and Cooking to Chemistry, Algebra and Literature. With over 140,000 online classes offered by teachers to learners around the globe. Outschool’s mission is to inspire kids to love learning by making education fun, social and self-directed. Classes on Outschool range from one-time enrichment lessons to semester-long core courses and weekly social clubs. Classes are offered across all subjects, and learners range from age 3 to 18. More information can be found at Outschool.com.
Survey Methodology:
Conducted by ResearchScape International on behalf of Outschool, the results in this report are from an online survey of a randomized sample of 1,065 U.S. parents of children aged 5-18 that was fielded from March 11-13, 2025. The responses are not weighted.
