School choice continues to earn broad public support

A new national survey shows that Americans continue to support school choice.

As National School Choice Week kicks off, polling from the national polling firm Beck Research on behalf of the American Federation for Children, finds that 63 percent of Americans “giving parents the right to use the tax dollars designated for their child’s education to send their child to the public or private school which best serves their needs.”

While school choice is often considered both partisan and controversial, and certainly receives more negative than positive press, it is supported by 72 percent of Hispanic voters, 66 percent of African American voters, and 61 percent of white voters. Ideologically, 75 percent of Republicans back school choice, as do 62 percent of independents and 54 percent of Democrats.

On specific questions, polling finds:

• 67 percent of Americans support a federal tax credit scholarship;
• 77 percent of Americans support school choice options for active military members;
• 75 percent of Americans support education savings accounts;
• 83 percent of Americans support school choice programs for students with special needs; and
• 72 percent of Americans support public charter schools.

This year, some 40,000 National School Choice Week events are planned throughout the country. The goal is to raise public awareness of all types of education options for children, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, online learning, private schools, and homeschooling.

The largest event in Mississippi will be held at the State Capitol on Tuesday, January 22.