EdChoice recently released the results of their 12th annual Schooling in America survey, a “nationally representative survey of the general public and parents of school-age children [which] offers an in-depth look at the opinions and trends shaping K–12 education in America.”

The survey, in partnership with Braun Research, was fielded across April 2024 and “obtained nationally representative samples of American adults (N=1,502) and current school parents (N=2,319).”

Among the survey’s findings, 76 percent among the general population responded being in favor of education savings account (ESA) programs, including 84 percent of current school parents. Among the groups more favorable toward ESAs than the general population were Hispanics (83 percent in favor), Millennials (81 percent in favor), those with at least a bachelor’s degree (78 percent in favor) and black respondents (78 percent in favor). Support for the programs was slightly higher from Democrats (77 percent) than Republicans (73 percent).

Further, 67 percent of the general population and 78 percent of current school parents were in favor of school voucher programs, while 69 percent of the general population and 79 percent of current school parents were in favor of tax-credit scholarship programs.

Unfortunately, many respondents weren’t sure if any of these options were available in their state. In fact, 52 percent of current school parents answered they were unsure if their state offered an ESA program and 46 percent were unsure about voucher programs as well.

“Parents from ESA states were no more likely to say that they had an ESA option; in fact, they were slightly less likely to say they had an ESA option than parents from states without ESAs,” the report states. “All in all, these results suggest that parents across the country are making decisions about their child’s schooling with imperfect information. A minority of parents are able to correctly identify the private school choice landscape in their given states. Many parents appear to assume their state has a popular public school choice policy even if it does not. If awareness is an important factor in making the most of public programs, advocates of school choice policies have some ground to make up.”

These results appear to be no outlier. Even In Florida, where school choice programs have been available since 2001, an August 2024 poll of 1,200 registered voters by the James Madison Institute found only 73 percent of respondents with children under the age of 18 were aware of the Sunshine State’s universal choice options.

Copious empirical research on school choice programs such as ESAs makes clear these programs offer families improved access to high-quality schools that meet their children’s unique needs and circumstances, and that these programs improve academic performance and attainment and deliver a quality education at lower cost than traditional public schools.

Additionally, education choice benefits public school students and taxpayers by increasing competition, decreasing segregation, and improving civic values and practices. Research also shows students at private schools are less likely than their public school peers to experience problems such as alcohol abuse, bullying, drug use, fighting, gang activity, racial tension, theft, vandalism, and weapon-based threats. There is also a strong causal link suggesting private school choice programs improve the mental health of participating students.

The goal of public education today and in the years to come should be to allow all parents to choose which schools their children attend, require every school to compete for every student who walks through its doors, and make sure every child has the opportunity to attend a quality school that best fits their unique needs and circumstances. There has not been a time when providing these opportunities has been more urgent and needed than right now.

Legislators in states that do not offer any education choice options to families should look for ways to institute one of these programs during the upcoming legislative session, while states that do have one of these types of programs should look to make them available universally to all families. Further, considering this poll shows many parents are still in the dark, legislators in school choice states should look into what can be done to make sure more parents are aware of the existence of these programs and that their children may be eligible to participate in them.

The following documents provide more information about ESAs and education choice.

2024 Schooling in America: Public Opinion On K–12 Education, Transparency, Technology, and School Choice

https://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024-Schooling-in-America.pdf

This nationally representative survey of the general public and parents of school-age children  by EdChoice offers an in-depth look at the opinions and trends shaping K–12 education in America.

The 123s of School Choice (2024 Edition)
https://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2024-123s-of-School-Choice.pdf
This report from EdChoice is an in-depth review of the available research on private school choice programs in America. Areas of study include: private school choice program participant test scores, program participant attainment, parent satisfaction, public school students’ test scores, civic values and practices, racial/ethnic integration and fiscal effects.

The Public Benefit of Private Schooling: Test Scores Rise When There Is More of It
https://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa830.pdf
This Policy Analysis from the Cato Institute examines the effect increased access to private schooling has had on international student test scores in 52 countries. The Cato researchers found that a 1 percentage point increase in the share of private school enrollment would lead to moderate increases in students’ math, reading, and science achievement.

The Effects of School Choice on Mental Health
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3272550
This study from Corey DeAngelis at the Cato Institute and Angela K. Dills of Western Carolina University empirically examines the relationship between school choice and mental health. It finds that states adopting broad-based voucher programs and charter schools witness declines in adolescent suicides and suggests that private schooling reduces the number of times individuals are seen for mental health issues.

Heartland Impact can send an expert to your state to testify or brief your caucus; host an event in your state; or send you further information on a topic. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance! If you have any questions or comments, contact Cameron Sholty, at csholty@heartlandimpact.org or 312/377-4000.