American Public Opinion and Partisan Conflict: Education’s Exceptionalism?

Abstract

The increase in partisan conflict in American politics in recent years has been stunning. It has been tracked and debated by political scientists at great length beginning with changes in elite level conflict in the two major American parties. This conflict has penetrated to the level of mass opinion and has become so pervasive that it is important to ask: what issues have not been substantially affected—and have thus been exceptional in this respect? Specifically, to what extent has education been one of them? Is this an issue around which there could be more constructive bipartisan debate and action than for other issues? Or does education policy divide partisans as much or more as do other issues? Analysis of national survey data indicates that the dimensions of education policy related to government spending and social values continue to be entangled in ongoing partisan and ideological conflict, though less strongly than for other national issues. Other dimensions – concerning the availability of quality education, educational standards, and accountability in elementary and secondary schooling— cannot be discussed in purely partisan terms. The emphasis on them has increased noticeably in national politics. While this has made education—and especially implementation during the Obama administration—no less a contentious issue at all levels, policy in this area has become potentially more open to constructive bipartisan policymaking. (ShapiroKilibardaSinozichPOEducation012116)