News Release: Survey: Kentucky voters strongly support school choice (Posted August 3, 2009).png)
For Immediate Release Contact: Jim Waters
Mon., Aug. 3, 2009 270-782-2140
Survey: Kentucky voters strongly support school choice
Pre-filed bill would allow charter schools
(BOWLING GREEN, Ky.) – Results of a new survey indicate more than eight out of 10 likely Kentucky voters would choose private, charter and virtual schools, or home schooling for their children if given the choice.
The survey, conducted by the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice on behalf of the Bluegrass Institute, Kentucky’s free-market think tank, and several other state and national organizations, found:
- some 86 percent of respondents likely would opt for schools other than traditional public schools. Only 23 percent of respondents rated Kentucky public schools as “good” or “excellent.”
- nearly 50 percent of respondents said they would choose private education.
- more than 10 percent said they would send their children to charter schools – if they were available.
“No longer is there any doubt that Kentucky voters support parental choice in education,” said Jim Waters, director of policy and communications for the Bluegrass Institute. “They understand that choice won’t destroy public education but will help ensure Kentucky students get the education they need and deserve.”
Kentucky is one of 10 states without a charter-school law. Charter schools are publicly funded schools that operate free of regulation, including teacher union demands.
A pre-filed bill (BR 115) by Rep. Stan Lee, R-Lexington, in the Kentucky General Assembly would allow charter schools.
“This is something I’ve been pushing for years, but now even the Obama administration supports the idea – so much so that there’s funding available for states that recognize the importance of charter schools,” Lee said. “Citizens across the commonwealth should contact the governor and let the House leadership know that the time has come to support choice for Kentucky’s parents.”
Lee also noted Bill Gates, co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, supports charter schools.
“If the richest man in the world supports charter schools, we should allow kids to attend them, giving them opportunity to get a quality education that prepares them to compete and succeed in the 21st century,” Lee said.
Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, indicated that states wanting to compete for $4.3 billion in education stimulus funding set for release later this year must support innovative educational reform, including charter schools.
Other survey results show that:
· school-choice concepts, including tax-credit scholarships, charter schools and vouchers, enjoy high levels of support among Democrats, Republicans and Independents.
· Some 70 percent of respondents underestimated per-pupil expenditures. (NationalCenter for Education Statistics show that the 2007 per-pupil funding in Kentucky was $9,348.)
· a wide disconnect exists between schooling preferences and actual enrollment numbers. Approximately 9 percent of the state’s students attend private schools despite the fact that 50 percent of K-12 parents indicate they would like to send their child to a private school.
· more than nine out of 10 Kentucky children attend the traditional public schools. Yet only 13 percent of respondents say they would choose a regular public school for their child – if given a choice.
“Rich or poor, Republican or Democrat, rural or urban, the results are clear: voters want more options in the education of their children,” said Paul DiPerna, director of partner services for the Friedman Foundation. “The support for school choice concepts – such as tax credits, vouchers and charter schools – cuts across numerous demographic groups.
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