Support for the new federal tax-credit scholarship program crosses political party lines, according to a recent national poll from 3D Strategic Research.
The poll, commissioned by the American Federation for Children, surveyed 1,000 registered voters early September and found that the federal tax-credit scholarship program — created under the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) — is popular in red, blue, and purple states, with nearly two-thirds of voters (64 percent) wanting their state to participate compared to just 18 percent who oppose.
Broken down by party affiliation, 70 percent of Republicans, 60 percent of independents, and 58 percent of Democrats support their state participating in the program. Sixty-six percent of parents with children under age 18 are in favor of the scholarship provision, as well as 67 percent of parents with children in public schools.
The program, funded by individual donations to federally recognized nonprofits, costs states zero dollars to participate and provides scholarships to eligible students in public, private, and home schools for use toward educational expenses such as tuition, tutoring, therapy services, and enrichment learning opportunities, to name a few.
But states have to opt-in for students to receive the scholarships.
So far, Democratic Gov. Josh Stein of North Carolina and Republican Gov. Bill Lee of Tennessee have shared they intend to opt their states into the federal tax-credit scholarship program, according to Education Week. Three other states — Oregon, New Mexico, and Wisconsin — have said they will not be opting in.
More formal decisions from states are expected once the U.S. Secretary of Treasury issues proposed regulations and guidance for implementing the program. These regulations will then go through the federal rulemaking process for finalization.
In red states, where Republicans control both the governorship and the legislature, 62 percent of voters support their state opting into the scholarship provision, according to the latest poll. In blue states, where Democrats control the governorship and the legislature, 63 percent of voters support their state opting in. In purple states, where control is divided between the parties, voter support for their state opting in is the highest at 67 percent.
Given the literacy and numeracy proficiency challenges that have hindered student achievement in the state’s public school system for years, opting Minnesota into the federal tax-credit scholarship program should be a front-and-center education talking point. The scholarships would open up new opportunities for targeted interventions and foundational skill development, as examples, for public school students who haven’t yet mastered these subjects. Should the gaps in learning persist, there will not only be academic ramifications but economic ones as well.
