Pop Quiz: What’s the best education policy a moderate politician in Virginia can pursue?
- Vouchers
- Charter Schools
- Education Tax Credits
Conventional wisdom says go with charter schools, because they are a bipartisan, moderate compromise reform that will get you the largest number of Independents and the least opposition. Vouchers are too hot to touch. And what’s an education tax credit … oh, right, they’re too controversial as well
Conventional wisdom is WRONG.
The Friedman Foundation has released another in their invaluable series of state education polls, this time for once‐purple Virginia. Their findings are consistent with other polls, and the pattern is worth highlighting.
Charter schools draw 59 percent in support and 26 percent in opposition. Vouchers find 57 percent in support and 35 percent in opposition. Personal‐use credits get the support of 59 percent and are opposed by 32 percent.
Donation tax credits are supported by 65 percent of voters and opposed by 23 percent.
Charters, vouchers, and personal‐use credits, in other words, are equally popular, with credits and vouchers drawing a bit more fire. And donation credits are wildly popular with only a rump of opposition.