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Breaking Down the EdChoice “Surveying State Legislators” Report
The document presents findings from a comprehensive phone survey of state legislators regarding their views on K-12 education issues, revealing a lack of awareness around education savings accounts (ESAs), with 29% uncertain of their stance. While many legislators support ESAs after being informed, there's a disconnect with broader public opinion on various school choice initiatives. Lawmakers prioritize direct experiences and personal networks when shaping their legislative priorities, highlighting the need for educational choice advocates to engage effectively with legislators.
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Breaking Down the EdChoice “Surveying State Legislators” Report
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- 2. Surveying State Legislatorsis the first comprehensive phone-only survey to ask state legislators how they make decisions on K–12 issues. EDCHOICE.ORG
- 3. We found manystate legislators may be unsure of the fastest-growing educational choice policy in the nation: education savings accounts (ESAs). 29% Didn’t Know or Didn’t Answer. Based on what you know, or have heard from others… In general, do you favor or oppose ESAs? EDCHOICE.ORG
- 4. But once provideda description, we found the majority of state legislators say they would support ESAs, and the rest of the nation agrees. *edchoice.org/2015NationalSurvey Favor Oppose Legislators National Average* 61% 62% 30% 28% EDCHOICE.ORG
- 5. However, the majorityof state lawmakers’ views on other types of school choice do not appear to be aligned with the American public. *edchoice.org/2015NationalSurvey Legislators National Average* 52% 40% 61% 33% VOUCHERS Legislators National Average* Favor Oppose 67% 22% 53% 27% CHARTERS EDCHOICE.ORG
- 6. Lawmakers are morelikely to believe K–12 education in their home states is going in the right direction. Right Direction Wrong Track 49% 43% EDCHOICE.ORG
- 7. Yet the restof America doesn’t seem to agree about the direction of K–12 education nationwide.* Right Direction Wrong Track 32% 60% EDCHOICE.ORG*edchoice.org/2015NationalSurvey
- 8. There’s certainly more educatingto be done. EDCHOICE.ORG
- 9. And it’s upto educational choice advocates to find better pathways to inform state legislators. ? EDCHOICE.ORG
- 10. Here’s what we’velearned about state lawmakers’ habits and preferences. EDCHOICE.ORG
- 11. Lawmakers' biggest professional challengesare: Time Use and Management Partisanship Budgets and Finance Constituent Services Working on Legislation 36% 27% 18% 17% 16% EDCHOICE.ORG
- 12. Most lawmakers lovetheir jobs. On a scale from 0 to 10, how likely is it that you would recommend serving as a state legislator to a friend or colleague? Promoters (9 or 10) Passives (7 or 8) Detractors (0 to 6) 54% 31% 13% EDCHOICE.ORG
- 13. Though, some morethan others. Northeastern Legislators Midwestern Legislators Southern Legislators Western Legislators 68% 47% 62% 36% PROMOTERS EDCHOICE.ORG
- 14. State legislators saythey are frustrated because they spend: Too little time communicating on social media Too much time attending party-related meetings Too little time working on legislation Too much time fundraising 39% 21% 36% 17% EDCHOICE.ORG
- 15. Most lawmakers payattention to different media on a daily basis to learn about K–12 education. Read Local Newspaper Personal Contact/Networks Watch Major Networks' Nightly News Broadcasts Watch Cable Network News (CNN, Fox News or MSNBC) Use Facebook Listen to NPR Use Twitter 41% 40% 31% 31% 26% 15% 11% EDCHOICE.ORG
- 16. But most ofall, state lawmakers prioritize direct experiences to develop their legislative priorities. Communications with Constituents Professional Experience Personal Experience Caucus Leadership Interest Group Information Hot Issues in the News Surveys/Polls 85% 77% 76% 36% 27% 19% 13% EDCHOICE.ORG
- 17. And personal networksand experiences are their most-trusted sources when considering K–12 education issues. 79%Personal Experience Professional Experience Caucus Leadership Interest Group Information Hot Issues in the News Surveys/Polls Communications with Constituents 82% 76% 32% 21% 14% 12% EDCHOICE.ORG
- 18. Notably, the morelikely a legislator is to recommend their job to others, the more likely they are to rely on the following to inform their voting decisions: -Caucus Leadership -Interest Group Information -Polling EDCHOICE.ORG
- 19. Our No. 1takeaway? EDCHOICE.ORG
- 20. The work educationalchoice advocates are already doing—promoting research and data, engaging families—all matters, but… EDCHOICE.ORG
- 21. …because of theirlimited time and capacity, lawmakers likely prefer to learn about that work from the people closest to them—their trusted personal contacts and constituents. EDCHOICE.ORG
- 22. To contact theauthor, Vice President of Research and Innovation Paul DiPerna, email paul@edchoice.org EDCHOICE.ORG/LegislatorSurvey For more regional and demographic details from this survey, visit