Columbus, Ohio — The support children receive at home is crucial to their success in the classroom, preparation to graduate from high school and transition to adulthood. A new national survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption found that nearly 9 in 10 Americans (88%) received support from a parent while in school (K-12).
When it comes to education, children heavily rely on their parents. However, youth lingering in foster care don’t always receive traditional parental support or stability. This can make it more difficult to succeed; highlighting the critical need to find these young people safe, loving and permanent families.
Not only did U.S. adults overwhelmingly indicate that they received parental support throughout their education, but most acknowledge the role of parental support. The survey found that about 3 in 4 Americans (74%) agree that receiving help from a parent helped prepare them to graduate from high school.
Commonly, children in foster care are placed in a variety of foster homes or group homes throughout their time in care, making receiving consistent, parental support for their education a challenge. This is one of the key contributors to the fact that, on average, youth in foster care graduate high school at a lower rate than their peers.
In addition, among U.S. adults:
- More than 4 in 5 (82%) agree that frequently changing homes makes it difficult for students to get a good education.
- Nearly 4 in 5 (79%) agree that growing up with their sibling(s) helps students with their education.
“This research confirms what we know to be true, that having the support of a parent who they know will always be there serves as a trampoline for a child’s success in life, every step of the way,” said Rita Soronen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. “For youth lingering in foster care, it is our job to ensure that they have the stability and security of a permanent family that is their birthright.”
The support that children receive from their parents is long-lasting and widespread, benefiting children not only in their K-12 education but also in life. Nearly half of college graduates surveyed (48%) say they relied on a parent to live with after graduation. In contrast, of the nearly 20,000 teens who age out of the foster care system in the U.S. every year without being adopted, nearly half will experience homelessness.
Zach Cochran is now a teacher. He credits the support he received from his parents who adopted him at age 11 with guiding him to where he is today. “I am out of college with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a certification in special education,” said Zach. “I am currently in my first job working in the classroom. I can confidently say that I have the education I have because my adoptive family gave me the needed stability.”
Many students also receive support from a parent when transitioning to college. Nearly half of college graduates say a parent supported them in pursuing college-related activities, such as applying for college (49%) or providing financial support during/after college (58%). No matter what kind of support parents provide for their child’s education, feeling this support is critical for their success.
Tonya Porter is heading to college in the fall and knows that it was her parents who adopted her at age 12 who helped put her on this path. “My adoption journey had a big impact on my life and who I am now. I used to be behind in school. Adoption helped me improve my grades, and I chose to attend East Carolina University to study social work,” said Tonya. “My dad also attended East Carolina. I am in the place that I am today because of the support of my family.”
For many young people in foster care who pursue higher education on their own, it can be challenging, in both financial and physical access. Most Americans overestimate the number of these young people care who graduate from high school and college believing it to be 10% or more. Less than 5% of youth in foster care graduate from college compared to a nearly 60% graduation rate among their peers.
This disparity in educational outcomes is one of the reasons propelling the work of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, including its commitment to conduct research and raise awareness of the challenges facing youth who linger in care or age out of the system. The Foundation believes every child deserves the best possible opportunity for a bright future with the support of a permanent family.
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About the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national, nonprofit public charity dedicated to finding permanent homes for the more than 140,000 children waiting in North America’s foster care systems. Created by Wendy’s® founder Dave Thomas who was adopted, the Foundation implements evidence-based, results-driven national service programs, foster care adoption awareness campaigns and innovative grantmaking. To learn more, visit davethomasfoundation.org.
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption between May 16–20, 2024 among 2,088 adults ages 18+. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the same data is accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Director of Brand and Cause Awareness Mary Ellen Smalley at maryellen.smalley@davethomasfoundation.org.
