RALEIGH, N.C. – Today, the Civitas Institute released the results of its annual North Carolina School Choice Poll, which surveyed registered voters regarding their opinion on school choice issues.

The week of January 20-26 is National School Choice Week.

The compelling findings send a clear signal that North Carolinians of all ages, races, and political parties are in support of expanding school choice programs in our state. Registered voters were asked their opinion on a variety of K-12 education issues, such as:Where would you send your children if resources were not an issue
Do you support Education Savings Accounts
How likely are you to support a candidate that supports school choice
A particularly salient finding is the responses the following subgroup of parents gave when asked: “What type of school does your child attend?”

Traditional Public    76%
Charter                           7%
Private                          10%
Home                               7%

The parents who selected “Traditional Public School,” were then asked:
“If you were able to select the best school for your child and resources were not a problem, what type of school would you select for your child?”

Traditional Public      28%
Charter                            13%
Private                             45%
Home                                  9%
Other                                   2%
Not Sure                             3%

”Education policy conversations in North Carolina consistently, and destructively, devolve into a ‘race to the top,’ to see who can spend the most money, regardless of outcomes,” said Civitas President Donald Bryson.

“However, this poll should give policymakers pause and concern the Department of Public Instruction. Families are continuing to choose different avenues of education for their children, and this poll indicates only 28 percent would stay if resources were not a problem. Policymakers need to consider why families are in search of other options.”

The clear desire that many parents have to exercise their natural right and responsibility to guide their child’s education is apparent. This belief in parental choice even translates into the larger group of voters polled: “How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Parents should have the ability to choose where their child attends school.”

Strongly Agree              70%
Somewhat Agree          22%
Somewhat Disagree      4%
Strongly Disagree          2%
Not Sure                             1%

Bryson continued, “The right to parental school choice is overwhelmingly popular in North Carolina, regardless of geography, income level, race or party registration. Politicians would serve well to take note, particularly given recent election results in Florida and Georgia.”

The survey also sought to gauge voter support of two North Carolina school choice programs, the Opportunity Scholarship and the Education Savings Account.

This poll surveyed 804 registered voters in North Carolina, ranging in age from 25 to 54. The margin of error for the survey at large is +/- 3.4%. 

Click here for complete survey results and crosstabs.

For questions or interview requests, please contact Brooke Medina, communications director, at bmedina@nccivitas.org or 919-714-4907.

Founded in 2005, the Civitas Institute is a Raleigh, NC-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit policy organization that fights to remove barriers to freedom so that all North Carolinians can enjoy a better life.