WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans’trust in U.S. leaders has slippedamid partisan gridlock that has led to federal government inaction on pressing issues at home and abroad.Americans’ weak confidence in the federal governmentextends to issues surrounding public education.

When asked to reflect on who should have the greatest influence on what is taught in the public schools, Americans prefer local school boards over the federal government by a wide margin, 56% to 15%. Twenty-eight percent believe state government should have the greatest say on curriculum.

While about nine times as many Democrats as Republicans say the federal government should have the greatest influence, the local school board is still the most popular choice among Democrats.

These findings are from the46th Annual PDK/Gallup Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools. Results are based on a Gallup Panel telephone study of 1,001 adults, aged 18 and older, conducted from May 29-June 20, 2014.

Majority of Americans Oppose Common Core to Guide Teaching

Common Core is one of the dominant topics in American public education this decade. About eight in 10 Americans say they have heard at least a little about the Common Core State Standards. Of those, the majority oppose using the standards in their community to guide teaching. Those who report they know “a great deal” about the Common Core are somewhat less likely to favor them (24%) than those who only know a little (39%).

Majority opposition to the use of the Common Core State Standards to guide instruction persists across age, income, and education levels, but opinion diverges by political affiliation. Republicans who have heard of Common Core are twice as likely as Democrats to oppose use of the standards to guide teaching.

Results from theGallup Daily tracking surveyearlier this year show that 52% of public school parents who had heard at least a little about the Common Core Standards were somewhat or very positive about them. The PDK/Gallup poll item is somewhat more specific, but results show that only about one in three (32%) public school parents favor having teachers in their community use the Common Core Standards to guide what they teach.

Common Core Limits Teachers, Opponents Say

Respondents who oppose having the teachers in their community use the Common Core were given four reasons they might oppose them. About two-thirds (65%) say a very important reason is that it will limit the flexibility teachers have to teach what they think is best.

Though the Common Core State Standards were developed by the National Governors Association, it is possible that Americans associate the initiative with the federal government because of support from the Department of Education and President Barack Obama. Despite declining trust in federal agencies and government generally, federal involvement with the Common Core State Standards does not emerge as a chief reason for opposition among the few that were proposed in this study. Just four in 10 opponents say the fact that the federal government originated the Common Core State Standards Initiative is a very important reason that they oppose them.

Common Core Is Important for Education Equity, Supporters Say

Those who favor use of the Common Core to guide teachers are most enthusiastic about the opportunity for education equity that the standards may afford. Three in four say a very important reason they favor the standards is that they will help students learn regardless of where they go to school.