The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted several long-term societal problems that were bubbling under the surface, just waiting to explode. The state of public education no doubt falls into that category, with many parents engaged but largely unaware of the state of their child’s education until directly confronted with how little many public school systems did to ensure learning continued during the pandemic. The opportunity to peer into classrooms via endless remote Zoom lessons gave parents a better picture of the quality of their child’s education — and left them eager for alternatives.

The effect of this jarring change to education is clear: State Policy Network polling shows that 79% of voters think parents should have more options in public education.