Support for school choice is on the rise in North Carolina. Recently, the John William Pope Civitas Institute released its July 2005 survey data on the perceptions of North Carolina voters. The survey revealed that a large majority (64 percent) of North Carolinians supports school choice. And a whopping 91 percent agree that low and middle-income families deserve the same educational choices as wealthier families.
In addition to questioning taxpayers about school choice, the poll posed numerous other questions about education, including the state’s charter schools. A majority (55 percent) of survey respondents were “unsure” about the quality of charter schools and expressed their greatest confidence in private schools. However, 52 percent said they supported charter schools, while 34 percent opposed them. Forty-six percent favored removing the charter school cap in North Carolina.
Spending priorities among voters parrot those of the education establishment, demonstrating that state bureaucrats (along with the media) have been very effective in crafting and selling their message. Most North Carolinians think their taxpayer dollars ought to go toward teachers’ pay, smaller classes and equal educational quality for all counties. While the survey did not question respondents about criteria for teacher pay, future surveys would do well to explore whether the public would support linking pay to student achievement.
Interestingly, reducing class size is a perennial favorite on any wish list of reforms, even though research reveals that doing so does not have a particularly beneficial impact on student achievement. In fact, research shows that smaller classes usually result in less qualified teachers: while teachers may increase in number (to accommodate smaller classes), their credentials often do not.
Overall, however, these polling numbers provide encouraging news about the popularity of choice. Obviously, the way choice is presented in surveys has a powerful impact on its ability to curry public favor. In fact, past polling results have shown that a question’s wording directly influences the level of support found for vouchers. The 36th Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll asked respondents the question, “Do you favor or oppose allowing students and parents to choose a private school to attend at public expense?” The negative phrase “at public expense” was a deterrent to many, with only 42 percent of respondents favoring vouchers, and 54 percent expressing opposition.
The Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation sponsored a 2004 poll comparing the negative wording of the Phi Delta Kappa (PDK) poll with more neutral phrasing. One-half of the sample group was asked the more biased question, yielding levels of support similar to the original PDK poll. However, the other half was asked the more neutral question, “Do you favor or oppose allowing students and parents to choose any school, public or private, to attend using public funds?” Not surprisingly, this question elicited support from 63 percent of respondents.
In sum, polling surveys tell us a great deal about public opinion, revealing information gaps and widespread bias. As education reformers, we would be wise to use this data to craft a compelling and accurate message about choice, informing the public about its many demonstrated benefits and dispelling common misconceptions. Increased public support is sure to follow, and with it, the ability to shape the policies of our state. As Abraham Lincoln said, “Our government rests in public opinion. Whoever can change public opinion can change the government practically just so much.”