Why Are The EducationNext’s Poll Results So Important? The Success Stories

The results are in. Another survey has found that support for educational choice continues to increase. This time around, it was Education Next’s annual poll that confirmed what advocates in states across the country already know to be true: 1. school choice is working and 2. positive public opinion of school choice is growing.
Although the poll touched on a few different aspects of K-12 education including charter schools, teacher pay, and school expenditures, our attention was drawn to two specific results on the private school choice front: support for vouchers and support for tax credit scholarships.
According to the survey, support for publicly funded scholarships, also referred to as vouchers, increased from 45% last year to 54% this year and support for tax credit scholarships increased from 55% to 57%.
Why the hoopla over mere “support”? As an advocacy organization that invests financial and human resources into grassroots efforts that help to increase awareness and build support for educational choice, we know that life-changing school choice stories begin with individuals who believe in the power of parents being able to choose.
Without this kind of support…

Stories like IvonD’liz wouldn’t be possible.

“The girl who failed 3rd grade was now student body president. The girl rescued by a @StepUp4Students scholarship now found the strength to rescue others.” After #SchoolChoice helped IvonD’liz, she helps #PuertoRico. https://t.co/B4F85h9wyk @redefinEDonline @JeffBarlis pic.twitter.com/TFPKcLnGiX

— Am Fed for Children (@SchoolChoiceNow) July 30, 2018

Walter would have been lost in a school that wasn’t a good fit for him.

“It was as if I was going home after leaving home in the morning. I was going to a place where I felt like I belonged.” For Walter Blanks, an #Ohio #SchoolChoice scholarship gave him access to a quality education and to an environment where he felt safe and accepted. pic.twitter.com/cjIw1juVDv

— Am Fed for Children (@SchoolChoiceNow) June 22, 2018

Yisehak wouldn’t have received his blueprint to success.

Yisehak Abraham received a @DCosp scholarship in the 4th grade. Today, as a graduate of @Columbia and a research assistant at @Harvard, he is thankful that #SchoolChoice gave him the blueprint for success. https://t.co/SdPHLpj8ih #DC pic.twitter.com/YRu7dKf5yo

— Am Fed for Children (@SchoolChoiceNow) June 13, 2018

A’bria’s safety would have been put in jeopardy.

A’bria Robinson grew up in one of the most dangerous cities in #Ohio. Although her circumstances said no to her hopes for the future, “#SchoolChoice said yes.” Today, she’s a student at @JohnCarrollU and is building a movement to empower young girls in #Cleveland. @BeYoutifulBrii pic.twitter.com/rOC0aF1PMk

— Am Fed for Children (@SchoolChoiceNow) June 8, 2018

Tiffany’s path may have been different, meaning one less person studying day in and out to find a cure for cancer.

– Valedictorian
– 1st in her family to attend college
– PhD from @SyracuseU
– Research fellow @JohnsHopkins studying cancer research
For Tiffany Dunston, her road to success started with a @DCosp #SchoolChoice scholarship. Watch as she shares her story. #FeelGoodFriday pic.twitter.com/dAh3V3vknz

— Am Fed for Children (@SchoolChoiceNow) May 25, 2018

The results from this poll are important because stories like these and the nearly 500,000 others like them depend on it.