1/3 of parents say schools having to cut

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PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Nearly a third of U.S. parents say the schools their children attend are making cuts because of financial problems, a poll released Thursday indicated.

A majority, 59 percent, said their schools have been able to avoid cuts, the Gallup Poll found. Most of the 32 percent who said their districts are cutting staff or programs say they believe the changes will hurt the education their children are receiving.

The survey was conducted Aug. 5-8, just before President Obama signed legislation including $10 billion in aid to education. The money is designed to help local school districts make up for cuts in state aid.

Parents with incomes of more than $75,000 are as likely as those of more moderate means to say their children's schools are suffering. There is a partisan divide, with Republicans much less likely than Democrats to say schools their children attend are making cuts.

Gallup surveyed 218 parents with children from kindergarten through high school for the telephone poll. The margin of error is 8 percent.