A recent poll conducted by Monmouth University’s Polling Institute on behalf of Excellent Education for Everyone (E3), showed that an overwhelming 74 percent of New Jersey residents support targeted education tax credits.
The support for tax credits is tremendous – you can’t find 74 percent support for apple pie – but it’s not all that surprising. Education tax credits consistently outpoll vouchers and have been the most successful school choice legislation in recent years. This new “blue” state poll adds to the mountain of evidence that people want school choice, and that education tax credits are the most promising way to get it.
The poll also found a solid majority, 54 percent, supports vouchers, although this is a significant drop from the 66 percent support found in a 2002 poll. Only 38 percent oppose vouchers. The level of support for vouchers is the same as it is for another popular reform, student-based funding, which determines funding for each student according to their need and allows that money to follow them. 54 percent of respondents support the proposal and 32 percent are opposed.
Maybe one more poll showing how big support for school choice really is will be enough to get politicians to stand up to the teachers’ unions … ok, maybe not.