A telephone survey of 800 Illinois residents conducted from February 17—21 finds low levels of support for politicizing public education at the K-12 and postsecondary levels. In contrast, Illinoisans surveyed by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) favor a focus on core competencies and civic education in public schools and universities. For example, 62 percent of respondents answered that “K-12 teachers should work to expose students to a variety of perspectives about the country’s founding and history . . . to equip them to think critically about its successes and failures,” compared to 23 percent who favor “K-12 teachers should embrace progressive viewpoints and perspectives when teaching U.S. history, to encourage students to advocate for social justice causes.” At the postsecondary level, strong majorities oppose reducing police presence on campus; support viewpoint diversity; favor a merit-based application process; and prioritize reducing the cost of tuition over expanding diversity and equity programs.

• Sixty-nine percent favored the viewpoint that “freedom of speech and open deliberation is the foundation of our democracy.”

• Yet, sixty-four percent reported that they stop themselves from expressing their opinion on controversial political and social issues “often” or “sometimes.”

• Fifty-four percent said that public universities should “prioritize lowering tuition, even if it means cutting funding to diversity and inclusion programs.”  

• Sixty-three percent responded that college applicants “should be treated equally based on merit even if that results in less racial diversity at selective colleges and universities.” 

For more information on the survey, visit www.goacta.org.