ALBANY, N.Y. — New Yorkers gave the state’s education system a sweeping vote of no confidence: 47 percent said the state should improve student performance, 41 percent said it should improve performance while spending less, and only 4 percent said New York should continue its current course. Respondents gave those answers after being told that New York spends nearly double the national average per student while producing only average results compared with other states.

“When only 4 percent of voters support staying the course, the message is unmistakable: New York’s education system needs serious reform,” said Zilvinas Silenas, President of the Empire Center.

New Yorkers also support giving families more choice over where children attend school. Nearly half of voters support a voucher system, with particularly strong support among voters in New York City and lower-income households.

“Most New Yorkers want families to have more control over where their children are educated,” said Mr. Silenas. “That includes support for vouchers that let parents choose the school that works best for their child, including a private school.”

New Yorkers also strongly rejected, by a 66 percent to 27 percent margin, replacing graduation exams with alternative evaluations.

“These results show deep public skepticism toward the State Education Department’s current direction,” said Mr. Silenas. “If there has ever been a wake-up call, this is it.”

Data Source: Survey of Likely 2026 General Election Voters, July 6–8, 2026. Sample size 600, with margin of error ±4.00%, completed by Cygnal on behalf of the Empire Center for Public Policy. Opinion Poll – Education

About the Empire Center for Public Policy
The Empire Center is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank located in Albany, New York. Our mission is to make New York a better place to live and work by promoting public policy reforms grounded in free-market principles, personal responsibility, and the ideals of effective and accountable government.

About Cygnal
Cygnal is an award-winning public opinion and predictive analytics firm. The firm delivered a 95 percent accuracy rating in the 2024 election cycle and has conducted more than 4,800 polls over 3,100 campaigns in all 50 states and more than 20 countries, helping governors, Members of Congress, state leaders, corporations, and trade associations turn voter data into decisions.

Media contact:

Zilvinas Silenas
Empire Center for Public Policy

518.434.3100
[email protected]