Deep political divide around race, LGBTQ+ topics in schools, new USC study finds

There are deep partisan divides regarding LGBTQ+ inclusion and racial justice in K-12 curriculum, according to a new study by University of Southern California researchers. 

“That said, there are major partisan differences in beliefs about what children should be learning in public schools, particularly regarding topics related to LGBTQ and race,” said Anna Saavedra, a co-author of the study, research scientist and co-director at USC’s Center for Applied Research in Education. “Local districts have the challenge of reconciling these differences in the coming years.” 

More than 3,900 U.S. adults took an internet-based survey from September to October, with 40% identifying as Democratic or leaning Democratic, 34% as Republican or leaning Republican, and 27% as independent or belonging to other political parties, according to researchers. Out of those surveyed, 1,763 households had at least one child in grades K-12 living in the home, and 2,142 households were without children.

Those surveyed across political parties overwhelmingly agreed on the importance of a free, public education, the study said. People also agreed on the core functions of teaching literacy, numeracy and civics, and positioning children to have a financially secure future. 

About 80%-86% of Democrats support high school students learning about LGBTQ+ topics, while less than 40% of Republicans approve, researchers found. Teaching these topics to elementary students dipped to 40%-50% among Democrats and only 10% approval from Republicans.

“Our survey highlights the deep divisions about not just what children should be learning in school, but also when,” Morgan Polikoff said in a statement, a co-author of the study and associate professor of education at USC. “Policymakers need to really think about these nuances if they are going to craft policies that reflect what Americans really want.”

More than half of adults support discussing race-related topics in high school classrooms, the study said. Democrats support elementary school children learning about slavery, civil rights and race-based inequality, but Republicans do not.

Read the full report here.