OCPA journalist Ray Carter reported yesterday on a new poll conducted by the University of Houston and Texas Southern University which found strong support for school choice in the Lone Star State. Fully 65% of Texans favor school vouchers and 69% favor Education Savings Accounts (ESAs).

Oklahomans’ views are similar, according to the latest monthly tracking poll (updated yesterday) commissioned by EdChoice and conducted by the firm Morning Consult. Fully 62% of Oklahoma adults—and 70% of Oklahoma parents—support vouchers, while 67% of Oklahoma adults—and 74% of Oklahoma parents—support ESAs.

The Oklahoma results appear to be fairly sticky. For example, the percentage of parents supporting vouchers (70%) is relatively unchanged from six months ago (67%), 12 months ago (69%), and 18 months ago (68%). 

The survey didn’t ask about “refundable tax credits,” which is the mechanism Oklahoma used to enact universal school choice in 2023. But functionally, vouchers and refundable tax credits are similar. (As one Oklahoma state Capitol insider quipped, “Our voucher identifies as a tax credit.”)

Will Oklahoma parents take advantage of the private-school-choice opportunities available to them? The survey asked: “If given the option, what type of school would you select in order to obtain the best education for your child?” While 44% of Oklahoma parents say they would choose a regular public school, 31% said they would choose a private school. 

School-choice take-up rates in Oklahoma and other states suggest that 31% of parents will not actually choose a private school anytime soon. Still, consistent survey results (and election results) showing the popularity of educational choice should cause legislators to defend and expand Oklahoma’s voucher and tax-credit programs.