Over 95% of New Yorkers want public education reform  

Most New York voters aren’t happy with public education.

A July survey from the Empire Center for Public Policy found only 4% of likely voters think education in New York is on the right track.

Nearly half (47%) said the state needed to improve student performance, and 41% said it also ought to lessen spending.

New York currently spends more than any other state in the nation on K-12 education. In the upcoming school year, its average per-pupil funding will exceed $37,000.

And a handful of districts already spend upwards of $70,000 to $100,000 per student.

But despite the staggering budget, only 53% of New York 8th graders are proficient in reading and just 47% in math.

“When only 4 percent of voters support staying the course, the message is unmistakable: New York’s education system needs serious reform,” said Empire Center President Zilvinas Silenas.

On top of poor academic performance, public schools have also adopted radical leftist ideologies.

In the past few years, the New York State Education Department updated graduation requirements to include diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); global citizenship; and social-emotional learning (SEL).

It also released pro-LGBT guidelines promoting transgenderism and discouraging school officials from notifying parents of their children’s mental health struggles.

And the state school board eliminated the high school graduation exam in the name of equity, allowing students to demonstrate proficiency through service projects or artistic or scientific portfolios.

Meanwhile, more New York voters want education reform – and more alternatives available for families.

Almost half of survey respondents supported the idea of a voucher program.

“Most New Yorkers want families to have more control over where their children are educated,” Silenas concluded. “That includes support for vouchers that let parents choose the school that works best for their child, including a private school.”

Finally, the survey showed a majority (66%) opposed the replacement of graduation exams with alternative assessments.

“These results show deep public skepticism toward the State Education Department’s current direction,” Silenas noted. “If there has ever been a wake-up call, this is it.”