Education

With education ‘on the wrong track,’ Oklahomans support parental choice

June 14, 2022

Brandon Dutcher

Most Oklahomans believe K-12 education is on the wrong track. They would choose something other than a regular public school if given the choice. And they support letting the money follow the child.

This according to the latest monthly tracking poll (updated June 8) commissioned by EdChoice and conducted by the firm Morning Consult. Consider:

• “Do you feel things in K–12 education are generally going in the right direction, or do you feel things have generally gotten off on the wrong track?” Only 35% of Oklahoma adults say things are going in the right direction.

• “If given the option, and neither financial costs nor transportation were factors, what type of school would you select in order to obtain the best education for your child?” Only 40% of Oklahoma parents say they would choose a regular public school—while 56% would choose something else (specifically, 32% said private school, 15% home school, and 9% charter school).

• “An ‘education savings account’ in K–12 education—often called an ESA—establishes for parents a government-authorized savings account with restricted but multiple uses for educational purposes. Parents can then use these funds to pay for: school tuition; tutoring; online education programs; therapies for students with special needs; textbooks or other instructional materials; or save for future college expenses. In general, what is your opinion of education savings accounts (ESAs)?” Fully 67% of Oklahoma adults—and a whopping 77% of Oklahoma parents—support ESAs.

“The time is always right to do what is right,” political scientist Greg Forster observes, “but momentum for school choice has also never been stronger.” Survey results like the ones above continue to make that clear. It’s time for Oklahoma lawmakers to do what is right: put parents in charge.