Education

Survey shows support for educational choice measures

February 7, 2019

Brandon Dutcher

Note: On April 9, 2019, this post was updated to include new survey results.

Yet another scientific survey of Oklahoma voters has found strong support for educational choice.

The statewide survey of 500 registered Oklahoma voters was commissioned by OCPA and conducted by WPA Intelligence from January 29 to January 31, 2019. The margin of error is ±4.4 percent. Below are the questions related to parental choice:

“If you could select any type of school in order to obtain the best education for your child or children, and financial costs and transportation were of no concern, what type of school would you select?”

Traditional public school … 46%
Charter school … 9%
Private or parochial school … 34%
Home school … 7%
Don’t know/refused … 4%

“Now I am going to read you a current educational choice program available for certain demographics in Oklahoma. After I read the program, please indicate if you would support or oppose the program being expanded to include any of the following demographics. The current program makes private-school scholarships available to special-needs students, foster children, and children adopted out of state custody.”

“Do you support or oppose expanding eligibility to children of incarcerated parents?”

Strongly support … 52%
Somewhat support … 24%
TOTAL SUPPORT … 76%

Somewhat oppose … 10%
Strongly oppose … 10%
TOTAL OPPOSE … 20%

Don’t know/refused … 5%

“Do you support or oppose expanding eligibility to homeless students?”

Strongly support … 65%
Somewhat support … 17%
TOTAL SUPPORT … 82%

Somewhat oppose … 6%
Strongly oppose … 8%
TOTAL OPPOSE … 14%

Don’t know/refused … 4%

“A proposal has been made to create an educational choice program in Oklahoma which provides private-school scholarships to public-school students who are bullied or are victims of violence. Would you support or oppose this proposal?”

Strongly support … 45%
Somewhat support … 19%
TOTAL SUPPORT … 64%

Somewhat oppose … 11%
Strongly oppose … 18%
TOTAL OPPOSE … 29%

Don’t know/refused … 6%

“A proposal has been made to enact an individual tax credit for approved educational expenses. Oklahoma parents could receive a state tax credit of up to $2,500 per child for public-school expenses such as costs for band instruments and uniforms, athletic equipment, and other public-school activities. Or, they could receive the tax credit for costs associated with private school tuition or homeschooling. Would you support or oppose this proposal?”

Strongly support … 42%
Somewhat support … 22%
TOTAL SUPPORT … 64%

Somewhat oppose … 11%
Strongly oppose … 17%
TOTAL OPPOSE … 28%

Don’t know/refused … 8%

This survey is the latest among many over the past five years which have measured Oklahomans’ views on parental choice in education. Here is the other survey research that has shown support for various forms of private-school choice:

And here is the survey research showing that Oklahomans oppose school vouchers (the survey didn't ask about tax credits or education savings accounts):