A new poll from Texas Southern’s Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center confirms for the bazillionth time that Texans support giving all parents access to an education savings account that will help them pay for private school and other educational expenses. A majority of nearly every demographic approves of ESAs. The only demo that doesn’t is non-religious Democrats.
Texas Southern is, of course, a historically Black college and the survey included an oversample of Black Texans to explore their position on the issue. Outside of self-identified Republicans, Black Texans show the highest support for ESAs at 69%. Even 67% of Black Democrats support the program.
That might be because 70% of Black Texans are “very concerned” about the college readiness of students that come from low-income areas. ESAs change the economics of who can afford to choose a better option if the parent isn’t satisfied with the education their kid is getting at their assigned school.
ESAs are also proving to be a major factor in improving educational outcomes. A new report on Florida’s school choice program from the group Black Minds Matter shows that not only is the program winning over tens of thousands of parents, but that it is improving the performance of kids who remain at public schools.
“In 2023-24, 142,384 Black students in Florida accessed charter schools, private schools or microschools via school choice scholarships, or education savings accounts for students with special needs. That’s up from 112,662 in 2020-21,” the authors write.
“Meanwhile, Black public school students in Florida continue to rank in the top five in fourth-grade reading and math, relative to Black students in other states…after trailing their peers in most states on those key measures in the 1990s.”
The results are in and school choice is a winner with parents and students.
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