Oregon’s Opinion on K-12 Education and School Choice Paul DiPerna Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice www.friedmanfoundation.org Salem, OR February 5, 2009

Survey sponsors: state and national Statistically representative samples of “ likely voters” N= 1,200 Random Digit Dial (RDD) Sampling Survey interview includes ≈ 40 questions Publish all questions and topline results Emphasis on demographics and “perspective groups” based on location, or identify as K-12 Parents, Political Party, Religion, Race/Ethnicity, Age, Income, etc. Overview

Survey sponsors: state and national

Statistically representative samples of

“ likely voters” N= 1,200

Random Digit Dial (RDD) Sampling

Survey interview includes ≈ 40 questions

Publish all questions and topline results

Emphasis on demographics and “perspective groups” based on location, or identify as

K-12 Parents, Political Party, Religion, Race/Ethnicity, Age, Income, etc.

What do Oregonians say in our survey interviews?

87 % of respondents would choose other than regular public schools for their children huge disconnect between schooling preferences and actual school enrollments . School choice is NOT a partisan issue among likely voters. Potential “bridge issue” for Dems, GOP, and Independents. Solid support for tax-credit scholarships, school vouchers, and charter schools. Moderate familiarity on school choice issues. Key Findings

87 % of respondents would choose other than regular public schools for their children

huge disconnect between schooling preferences and actual school enrollments .

School choice is NOT a partisan issue among likely voters. Potential “bridge issue” for Dems, GOP, and Independents.

Solid support for tax-credit scholarships, school vouchers, and charter schools.

Moderate familiarity on school choice issues.

K-12 Education Out of seven issue choices… Nearly 1 out 5 say it is the most important issue.

31% Rate Oregon’s public school system as “ good” or “excellent”.

Rate Oregon’s public school system as

“ good” or “excellent”.

“ If it were your decision and you could select any type of school, what type of school would you select in order to obtain the best education for your child?”

44% prefer private schools .

prefer private schools .

13% prefer regular public schools .

prefer regular public schools .

24% prefer charter schools .

prefer charter schools .

School Choice Reforms

“ How familiar are you with ‘school vouchers’ in K-12 education?”

69% of Oregonians are familiar with school vouchers .

of Oregonians are familiar with school vouchers .

“ School vouchers allow parents the option of sending their children to the school of their choice, whether that school is public or private, including both religious schools and non-religious schools. If this policy were adopted, tax dollars currently allocated to a school district would be allocated to parents in the form of a ‘school voucher’ to help pay tuition for the school where they choose to send their children. In general, do you favor or oppose this idea?”

63% of Oregonians favor school vouchers .

of Oregonians favor school vouchers .

Tax-credit Scholarships a (relatively) new policy innovation…

“ Some states give tax credits to individuals and businesses if they contribute money to nonprofit organizations that distribute private school scholarships. This policy supports a ‘tax-credit scholarship system.’ If a proposal were made in Oregon to create such a system, would you favor or oppose such a plan?”

51% favor tax-credit scholarships .

favor tax-credit scholarships .

What states have Tax-credit Scholarship Systems?

Thank you Paul DiPerna [email_address]