New Survey Finds Bipartisan Parental Support for Annual Testing

A new survey from The PIE Institute found that parents across party lines back annual testing for students.

A new survey from The PIE Network found that parents across party lines back annual testing for students. The August 2025 survey also found that parents not only care about testing as a measurement tool but also as a tool for accountability.

In the national survey, 95 percent of those polled say it’s important to test each year. The results show that annual testing in grades three through ten receives strong support across political lines.

This aligns with other recent research showing that parents support statewide testing. A July poll of 1,000 Republican voters conducted by education advocacy organization Tennesseans for Student Success found 86 percent consider it important for public school students to receive annual statewide assessments.

The Tennessee Firefly is a product of and supported by Tennesseans for Student Success.

Parents Want Accountability & Actionable Data

PIE’s polling found 89 percent of voters believe test results should show whether students are on track for college or career. When asked whether test results should be used to show if students are meeting grade-level expectations, 91 percent said yes.

In the PIE survey, 80 percent of Americans say ensuring every child reaches grade level in reading, math, and writing should be a “very important’ priority.

Only 27 percent of those surveyed by PIE say students take “too many tests” while “49 percent” say it’s “about right.”