School Choice Polling
Here we will continue to compile and update school choice polling across the country. We will include statewide polls and national polls. Please reach out to Elizabeth BeShears, the American Federation for Children’s National Director of Communications Strategy, at [email protected] if you have questions.
QUESTION: SCHOOL CHOICE
“School choice gives 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. Generally speaking, would you say you support or oppose the concept of school choice?”
National Polling:
- Real Clear Opinion (1,000 registered voters, national, June. 2023) – 71%
- Real Clear Opinion (2,000 registered voters, national, Feb. 2022) – 72%
- RealClear Opinion (1,762 registered voters, national, June 2021) – 74%
- RealClear Opinion (2,009 registered voters, national, March 2021) – 71%
- Beck Research (1,200 likely voters, national, Jan. 2021) – 65%
- RealClear Opinion (2,020 registered voters, national, Aug. 2020) – 69%
- RealClear Opinion (2,122 registered voters, national, April 2020) – 64%
- Beck Research (1,275 likely voters, national, Jan. 2020) – 69%
- RealClear Opinion (2,014 registered voters, national, Sept. 2019) – 68%
- Mason-Dixon (676 likely voters, national, June 2019) – 73%
- Beck Research (1,200 likely voters, national, Jan. 2019) – 67%
- Beck Research (1,100 likely voters, national, Jan. 2018) – 63%
- Beck Research (1,100 likely voters, national, Jan. 2017) – 68%
- Beck Research (1,100 likely voters, national, Jan. 2016) – 70%
- Beck Research (800 likely voters, national; 800 state Jan. 2015) – 69%
State Polling:
- Tennessee – Targoz Market Research (459 registered voters, February 2024) – 63%
- GOP – 70%
- Idaho
- 3D Strategic Decisions
- JMC Analytics (300 likely voters, March 2023) – 65%
- JMC Analytics (300 likely voters, March 2023) – 62%
- JMC Analytics (300 likely voters, March 2023,) – 47%
- Victory Enterprises (LD 6B, 300 likely voters, September 2022, cross tabs) – 58%
- Victory Enterprises (LD 29, 300 likely voters, September 2022, cross tabs)
- Texas – University of Texas at Tyler (1,384 registered voters, Aug. 2022) – 62%
- Florida – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 73%
- Virginia – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 71%
- Georgia – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 79%
- Kentucky – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 74%
QUESTION: EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
“As you may know, Education Savings Accounts allow parents to use their education tax dollars to customize their child’s learning and development. Approved Education Savings Accounts expenses include technical training, K through 12 private school tuition, or even special needs therapies from an array of providers including public and private schools or tutors. Knowing this, do you generally favor or oppose Education Savings Accounts?”
National Polling:
- OnMessage Inc. (1,000 likely voters, Feb. 2022) – 77%
QUESTION: PARENT POWER:
“Parents should be in charge of decisions regarding their child’s education. It is not fair that only wealthy parents truly get to decide where their child goes to school.”
National Polling:
- OnMessage Inc. (1000 likely voters, national, Sept. 2022) – 75%
- OnMessage Inc. (1,000 likely voters, Feb. 2022) – 75%
QUESTION: FEDERAL TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP (EDUCATION FREEDOM SCHOLARSHIPS)
“The Education Freedom Scholarship is a federal scholarship tax credit that allows individuals and businesses to donate to in-state non-profit scholarship granting organizations that would provide scholarships for students to attend public, private, or career and technical schools of their choice.”
National Polling:
- OnMessage Inc. (1000 likely voters, national, Feb. 2022) – 63%
- OnMessage Inc. (1,000 likely voters, Feb. 2022) – 66%
- Beck Research (1,200 likely voters, national, Jan. 2021) – 79%
- RealClear Opinion (2,122 registered voters, national, April 2020) – 69%
- Beck Research (1,275 likely voters, national, Jan. 2020) – 78%
- RealClear Opinion (2,014 registered voters, national, Sept. 2019) – 70%
- Mason-Dixon (676 likely voters, national, June 2019) – 63%
State Polling:
- Florida – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 76%
- Virginia – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 74%
- Georgia – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 81%
- Kentucky – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 68%
- Texas – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, July 2019) – 67%
QUESTION: SCHOOL CHOICE HYPOCRITES
“If an elected official or political candidate sends their own children to private school but opposes school choice for other families, would that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, less likely to vote for that candidate, or would it not make a difference?”
National Polling:
- RealClear Opinion Research (2000 likely voters, Sept. 2021) – Less Likely: 62%
QUESTION: PARENTAL CONTROL
“How much influence do you think parents of K-12 students should have over what schools teach?”
National Polling:
- Echelon Insights (1,098 registered voters, Oct. 2021) – 72% “Most or Some”
QUESTION: COVID ISSUES
“On average, American taxpayers spend $15,424 per student nationwide on K-12 public education. Would you support or oppose giving parents a portion of those funds to use for home, virtual, or private education if public schools do not reopen for in-person classes?”
State Polling:
- Virginia – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2020) – 61%
“Recent federal legislation gave governors new funding they can use for K-12 education. Some governors have let families control the funds for the purchase of education technology and materials, private school tuition, and home education. Would you support or oppose [Governor] sending the funding directly to families and allowing them to choose how to use those funds to support their child’s education?”
State Polling:
- Virginia – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2020) – 51%
QUESTION: SCHOOL PREFERENCE
“If it was your decision and you could select any type of K-12 school, what type of school would you select in order to obtain the best education for your child?”
National Polling:
-District Public
- Beck Research (1,200 likely voters, national, Jan. 2021) – 45%
- RealClear Opinion (2,020 registered voters, national, Aug. 2020) – 32%
- Beck Research (1,275 likely voters, national, Jan. 2020) – 47%
- RealClear Opinion (2,014 registered voters, national, Sept. 2019) – 30%
- Beck Research (1,200 likely voters, national, Jan. 2019) – 35%
(Remainder)
- Beck Research (1,200 likely voters, national, Jan. 2021) – 55%
- RealClear Opinion (2,020 registered voters, national, Aug. 2020) – 68%
- Beck Research (1,275 likely voters, national, Jan. 2020) – 49%
- RealClear Opinion (2,014 registered voters, national, Sept. 2019) – 69.7%
- Beck Research (1,200 likely voters, national, Jan. 2019) – 59%
-Private
- Beck Research (1,200 likely voters, national, Jan. 2021) – 40%
- RealClear Opinion (2,020 registered voters, national, Aug. 2020) – 29%
- Beck Research (1,275 likely voters, national, Jan. 2020) – 41%
- RealClear Opinion (2,014 registered voters, national, Sept. 2019) – 40%
- Beck Research (1,200 likely voters, national, Jan. 2019) – 47%
-Public Charter
- Beck Research (1,200 likely voters, national, Jan. 2021) – 8%
- RealClear Opinion (2,020 registered voters, national, Aug. 2020) – 13%
- Beck Research (1,275 likely voters, national, Jan. 2020) – 7%
- RealClear Opinion (2,014 registered voters, national, Sept. 2019) – 13%
- Beck Research (1,200 likely voters, national, Jan. 2019) – 11%
-Home
- RealClear Opinion (2,020 registered voters, national, Aug. 2020) – 15%
- RealClear Opinion (2,014 registered voters, national, Sept. 2019) – 11%
-Virtual
- RealClear Opinion (2,020 registered voters, national, Aug. 2020) – 11%
- RealClear Opinion (2,014 registered voters, national, Sept. 2019) – 6%
State Polling:
-District Public
- Florida – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 30%
- Virginia – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 39%
- Georgia – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 39%
- Kentucky – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 74%
(Total Non-District School)
- Florida – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 59%
- Virginia – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec.2019) – 56%
- Georgia – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 57%
- Kentucky – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 74%
-Private
- Florida – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 39%
- Virginia – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 38%
- Georgia – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 32%
- Kentucky – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 39%
-Public Charter
- Florida – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 14%
- Virginia – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec.2019) – 13%
- Georgia – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 19%
- Kentucky – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 13%
-Home
- Florida – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 5%
- Virginia – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 5%
- Georgia – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 5%
- Kentucky – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 9%
-Virtual
- Florida – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 1%
- Virginia – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – -%
- Georgia – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 1%
- Kentucky – Mason-Dixon (625 registered voters, Dec. 2019) – 1%
Read more about school choice messaging by clicking here…
