Press Release: Teacher Survey Reveals Growing Support for School Choice Initiatives
A recent survey conducted by EdChoice reveals a significant boost in teacher optimism regarding local school districts, with over half of educators believing their districts are on the right path—an increase of 12 points since last spring.
The survey highlights strong support for various school-choice options among teachers. Notably, 74% favor education savings accounts (ESAs), 66% support open enrollment, 60% back charter schools, and 54% endorse school vouchers. Additionally, two-thirds of respondents showed support for refundable tax credits aimed at educational expenses.
Support for school-choice programs tends to be higher among private-school teachers, yet a majority of traditional public-school teachers also expressed favorable views. The survey indicates that 81% of private-school teachers back ESAs compared to 74% of their public-school counterparts. For school vouchers, support was recorded at 67% among private-school teachers and 51% among district-school educators.
This national trend aligns with a Carolina Journal poll from January 2024, where two-thirds of likely voters in North Carolina expressed backing for the Opportunity Scholarship Program, the state’s voucher system.
While optimism is prevalent, with two-thirds of teachers feeling a sense of purpose and hope for the future, about one-third report feeling overwhelmed in their roles. The survey underscores notable differences in outlook between private and public school teachers, with the former showing greater optimism.
The survey also indicates teachers’ skepticism towards the closure of the U.S. Department of Education and a general disfavor regarding laws limiting discussions on divisive topics in classrooms. Moreover, many teachers believe that school districts should have greater influence over K-12 education policies than state or federal authorities.
The EdChoice survey was conducted from March 21-27 with responses from 1,032 teachers, yielding a margin of error of ±3.72%.
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