New poll finds strong support for DC voucher program, charter schools
July 28, 2009

-DC residents approve of Fenty, Rhee, DC City Council performance-

WASHINGTON, DC (July 28, 2009) -- More than seven out of ten registered voters in the District of Columbia support the federally funded DC Opportunity Scholarship program, which provides tuition scholarships for low-income students to attend private schools, according to the results of a public opinion survey released today by nine local and national educational and policy organizations. Seventy-four percent say they either "strongly favor" or "somewhat favor" the scholarship program and a majority (56 percent) support expanding the program to provide scholarships to all children who have applied

The results also indicate that 68 percent oppose ending the program. Congress earlier this year cut funding to the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship program and the U.S. Department of Education has closed the program to new applicants, and rescinded scholarships awarded to 216 families for the upcoming school year. The federally funded program provides vouchers of up to $7,500 so that low-income students can attend schools of their choice.

The survey was conducted by the Indianapolis-based Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, one of the nine groups releasing the results. The report was authored by Paul DiPerna of the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice and Dan Lips of the Heritage Foundation.

The results were released by DC C hildren First, Greater Washington Urban League, DC School Reform Now, Friends of Choice in Urban Schools (FOCUS), the Heritage Foundation, Alliance for School Choice, the Black Alliance For Educational Options (BAEO), Center for Education Reform and the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice

"I don't know what more anyone needs to prove that this program is worthwhile and necessary," said Robert Enlow, President and CEO of the Friedman Foundation. "Over 70 percent of registered voters favor this program. The research shows the program is working, with better schools and higher test scores. To disregard this mountain of evidence is to put politics before what works best for DC children. We hope and recommend that federal policymakers consider the views of the residents of the District as they contemplate further educational reforms."

The survey results also found that the District's registered voters value private schools and charter schools. When asked "if it was your decision and you could select any type of school for your child, what type of school would you select," a large majority, 70 percent, chose private or charter schools. Nearly half -- 47 percent of the respondents -- indicated that they would choose a private school for their children; 23 percent would pick a charter school.

Nearly three-fourths of voters (74 percent) were favorable toward charter schools and 64 percent of voters supported the Congressional "three sector" initiative that provides equal parts additional funding for public schools, charter schools, and D.C. Opportunity Scholarships.

The survey results also found more than three out of four respondents (76 percent) rate the D.C. Public School system as "fair" or "poor." In an open-ended question asked as part of the survey, voters most frequently used the words "poor," "fair," "good" and "improving" as their first impression of D.C.'s school system.

In addition, 29 percent of voters named "K-12 education and schools" their top priority issue. Other issues cited by voters (in descending order) were the "economy and jobs", crime, housing, congressional voting representation, and taxes.

Voters also indicated strong approval for how Mayor Adrian Fenty, the D.C. City Council, and School Chancellor Michelle Rhee are handling their jobs. Approval ratings are 63 percent, 65 percent, and 62 percent, respectively. Chancellor Rhee has the highest proportion of respondents (27 percent) who "strongly approve" of their job performance.

With respect to school funding, while a majority of voters (53 percent) believe public school funding is too low, most respondents underestimate how much is currently spent on public education in the District. When asked to estimate how much is spent on each student in D.C. public schools, 70 percent believed per-student expenditures was below $12,000. According to the U.S. Department of Education, total per-student spending in D.C. public schools was $15,511 as of 2006-07.

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News Media Contacts: Joe DiLaura (317) 229-2128 or Paul DiPerna (317) 229-2131

Please visit our website to read the full study at http://www.friedmanfoundation.org/research.