New Study Reveals Kentucky Parents’ Perceptions of Education
April 8, 2026
Contact: Lisa McKinney, Communications Director, The Prichard Committee
(cell) 859-475-7202
lisa@prichardcommittee.org
New Study Reveals Kentucky Parents’ Perceptions of Education
Survey Highlights Strengths in Student Mental Health Support, Opportunities to Expand Tutoring and Family Engagement
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence today released the second edition of The State of Educational Opportunity in Kentucky, a statewide survey of parents examining how families view the opportunities available to their children in school and beyond.
Produced in partnership with 50CAN and Edge Research, the report captures the general perspective of 411 Kentucky parents and guardians of K-12 students, surveyed between Sept. 30 and Dec. 1, 2025, as part of a nationwide study reaching more than 23,000 families. The findings offer a credible statewide snapshot of how Kentucky families view educational opportunities for their children.
The findings offer a detailed look at how Kentucky compares nationally across five areas critical to student success: school quality and opportunity, tutoring and summer learning, out-of-school activities, family engagement, and college and career readiness.
“Kentucky families are clear about both the progress we’ve made and the work ahead,” said Brigitte Blom, President and CEO of the Prichard Committee. “Parents see encouraging signs in areas like mental health support and preparation for life after high school, but they also point to gaps in tutoring, summer learning and family engagement that must be addressed together.”
Key Findings
Kentucky leads nationally in satisfaction with student mental health support. Nearly 46% of Kentucky parents say they are very satisfied with how their child’s school supports mental health needs—placing the Commonwealth among the highest-performing states on this measure.
Parents express relatively high confidence in preparation for life after high school compared to other states; however, overall confidence remains low. About 35% of parents say they are extremely confident their child will be prepared for the workforce, and 34% express the same level of confidence in college preparation, rates that compare favorably with many states.
Tutoring and summer learning participation remain low. Only 21% of Kentucky parents indicated their children participated in academic tutoring during the past school year, and just 27% participated in supervised summer programs—both below the national average and well behind leading states.
Students continue to participate in well-rounded learning opportunities. Many Kentucky families report participation in sports, arts and volunteer activities, underscoring the importance parents place on experiences beyond the classroom. However, access to these opportunities varies across communities.
Family engagement opportunities remain underutilized. While many parents expressed a desire to be involved in their child’s education, only 22% report attending parent organization meetings and 18% say they are very familiar with how school budget decisions are made.
A Roadmap for Improving Opportunity
The report emphasizes that the findings are intended to guide action, helping educators, policymakers and communities identify where progress is being made and where additionalinvestment and collaboration are needed.
“We see this report as a roadmap,” Blom said. “By expanding access to high-quality tutoring and summer learning, strengthening partnerships with families, and ensuring students graduate prepared for post high school success, Kentucky can continue moving to the top-tier in education and upward mobility.”
A full digital copy of the report is available at prichardcommittee.org.
About the Prichard Committee
We believe in the power and promise of public education – early childhood through college – to ensure Kentuckians’ economic and social well-being. We are a citizen-led, bipartisan, solutions-focused nonprofit, established in 1983 with a singular mission of realizing a path to a larger life for Kentuckians with education at the core.
About 50CAN
50CAN: The 50-State Campaign for Achievement Now is a locally led, nationally supported nonprofit education advocacy organization committed to a high-quality education for all kids, regardless of their address.
About Edge Research
A woman-owned marketing research company and trusted partner, Edge Research tells data-driven stories that make our clients’ programs, products, and brands successful, because we believe in conducting purposeful and impactful work. Our goal is to blend wisdom, experience, creativity, and innovation to drive change. One of Edge’s key verticals is education, which ranges from early childhood development to K-12 and postsecondary education, to lifelong learning.