A survey released Thursday showed that a majority of likely November 2018 voters support President-elect Trump’s proposal for a $20 billion federal school choice program. About 51 percent were in favor, with 35 percent against and 14 percent undecided.
On the campaign trail, Trump proposed reprioritizing existing federal dollars and giving states the option to allow the funds to follow the student to any public or private school of their choice. Trump set an ambitious goal of ensuring every school-aged child living in poverty has access to school choice.
The survey, commissioned by school-choice supporters, also found consistent support for the concept of school choice in general, with 68 percent in favor and 28 percent opposed. Roughly 75 percent of Latinos support school choice, as do 72 percent of African-Americans and 75 percent of millennials.
The survey question described school choice as giving “parents the right to use the tax dollars associated with their child’s education to send their child to the public or private school which better serves their needs.”
The survey was commissioned by the American Federation for Children, a non-profit organization that supports school choice. Trump’s pick for secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, chaired the organization until her selection was announced.
Jason Russell is the contributors editor for the Washington Examiner.
