2018 PDK Shows Lack of Confidence in School Safety, Desire for Greater Spending on Students Who Need Support

The annual PDK poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools found that parents lack strong confidence that schools can protect their children against school shootings but favor armed police, mental health screenings, and metal detectors more than arming teachers. When it comes to spending, a 21-point margin (60% to 39%) prefers having public schools spend more on students who need more support rather than spending the same on all students regardless of their need for support. Read more insights into the public’s attitudes towards public schools here.