A new survey commissioned by the Washington Policy Center concludes that a majority of state residents—60 percent—say they support allowing charter schools in Washington State.
Obviously, that conclusion comes with a few caveats. The WPC is a very conservative think tank—they oppose bike lanes, regulations on business, and taxes—and previous polls by the group have been almost comically skewed to produce the desired results. (A poll on transportation taxes, for example, incorporated the priority of “reducing congestion” into every single question, asking respondents, for example, if they thought reducing congestion was important).
Their education analyst, Liv Finne, has a blog where she frequently argues in favor of charter schools. And some of the language in the questions below could be viewed as favorable to charter schools (“tuition free schools that take all students,” for example). Countering that last point, though, is the fact that Washington State voters have voted on charter schools (and rejected them) three times, so they’re fairly well informed on what charter schools are.
With those caveats in mind, here are the exact questions and the results; make of them what you will.
41 states & the District of Columbia have charter public schools, independent community- based schools that are tuition-free and take all students…Currently, state law bans such schools in Washington. After hearing this, would you support or oppose changing state law so charter public schools could be opened in Washington State?
Support 60 percent
Oppose 25 percent
Don’t Know 15 percent
Would you support or oppose allowing charter public schools to open in urban neighborhoods where state officials report traditional schools are failing to adequately educate low-income and minority children?
Support 64 percent
Oppose 22 percent
Don’t Know 14 percent
A few other things that probably skew the poll in favor of charter schools: Older people, who tend to be more conservative, are overrepresented, with 60 percent of the respondents over 55. Seattle voters, who tend to be more liberal, are underrepresented, at just 9 percent of state residents surveyed.
Obviously, that conclusion comes with a few caveats. The WPC is a very conservative think tank—they oppose bike lanes, regulations on business, and taxes—and previous polls by the group have been almost comically skewed to produce the desired results. (A poll on transportation taxes, for example, incorporated the priority of “reducing congestion” into every single question, asking respondents, for example, if they thought reducing congestion was important).
Their education analyst, Liv Finne, has a blog where she frequently argues in favor of charter schools. And some of the language in the questions below could be viewed as favorable to charter schools (“tuition free schools that take all students,” for example). Countering that last point, though, is the fact that Washington State voters have voted on charter schools (and rejected them) three times, so they’re fairly well informed on what charter schools are.
With those caveats in mind, here are the exact questions and the results; make of them what you will.
41 states & the District of Columbia have charter public schools, independent community- based schools that are tuition-free and take all students…Currently, state law bans such schools in Washington. After hearing this, would you support or oppose changing state law so charter public schools could be opened in Washington State?
Support 60 percent
Oppose 25 percent
Don’t Know 15 percent
Would you support or oppose allowing charter public schools to open in urban neighborhoods where state officials report traditional schools are failing to adequately educate low-income and minority children?
Support 64 percent
Oppose 22 percent
Don’t Know 14 percent
A few other things that probably skew the poll in favor of charter schools: Older people, who tend to be more conservative, are overrepresented, with 60 percent of the respondents over 55. Seattle voters, who tend to be more liberal, are underrepresented, at just 9 percent of state residents surveyed.
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