0. Center for American Progress Views on Private School Vouchers
June 2017

1. Quantitative Methodology
Survey fielded June 7–11, 2017 and informed by 6 focus groups
Representative online national survey of 1,500 registered voters plus demographic over-samples of:
African Americans (347 interviews)
Hispanics (332 interviews)
Parents (633 interviews)
Total sample size of 1,950 RV. Overall margin of error: ±2.2 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence interval

2. Virtually All Voters Positive About Quality of Local Schools
Thinking about the public schools children attend in your community, how would you rate the quality of education in public schools in your community?
African
American
Total
Hispanic
+38
+20
+36
+52
Excellent
Total excellent/good
Poor
Total just fair/poor

3. Public Money In Public Schools Message Handily Defeats Private School Choice Difference in Intensity Underscores Power of Public Money in Public Schools
Now I'm going to read you some pairs of statements. After I read both statements, please tell me whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own view, even if neither is exactly right.
(Statement A) The best use of our education dollars is to invest in improving public schools.
(Statement B) The best use of our education dollars is to fund the expansion of private school choice programs.
Statement A
Strongly
Total Statement A
Total Statement B
Statement B

4. Clear Majority Even Supports Public Money ONLY for Public Schools
Now I'm going to read you some pairs of statements. After I read both statements, please tell me whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own view, even if neither is exactly right.
(Statement A) Taxpayer money should only be used to fund public schools, not private or religious schools.
(Statement B) Taxpayer money should follow individual students to whatever school is best for them, whether that is a public, private, or religious school.
Statement A
Strongly
Total Statement A
Total Statement B
Statement B

5. Even Majority of GOP Favors Public Money for Public Schools Message
Now I'm going to read you some pairs of statements. After I read both statements, please tell me whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own view, even if neither is exactly right.
(Statement A) Taxpayer money should only be used to fund public schools, not private or religious schools.
(Statement B) Taxpayer money should follow individual students to whatever school is best for them, whether that is a public, private, or religious school

6. Budget Opposition Increases After Hearing Neutral Budget Information, Positive Messages, and Negative Messages - Early Debate Will be Key
Based on what you've heard so far, do you support or oppose President Trump's education budget?
Explain the flow of the poll before the slides to follow.
Learning “just the facts” about the Trump budget drives much more negative reaction.
Positive school choice messages can have a persuasive effect.
But that effect is swamped when voters then hear corresponding negative messages about private school vouchers.

7. Neutral Information on Top Cuts Produce Strong Opposition, Huge Intensity Imbalance

8. Even Second Tier Reactions to Cuts Produce Huge Differences

9. New Choice Investments Fail to Significantly Increase Support
Voucher and charter increases do not significantly increase support for the Trump Budget.
But note the different and much more positive reaction to the proposed investment in public school choice. There is appeal among voters to students being able to attend the public school of their choice. That highlights the risk of messages that are anti-choice vs. anti-private school voucher.

10. Top Messages in Support of Vouchers Focus on Neediest Students, Individual Choice, Status Quo
For each statement, please indicate whether it is a very convincing, somewhat convincing, a little convincing, or not at all convincing reason to SUPPORT Trump's education priorities and budget proposal.
Too often, children in the poorest neighborhoods are trapped in dangerous and failing schools. We have a moral obligation to provide an alternative for parents whose children are struggling in schools that are unsafe and ineffective.
Kids, families, and communities are all different, with unique needs and values. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, we should give families the option to send their kids to the school that works best - whether it be a traditional district school, charter school, magnet school, private school, religious school, or homeschooling.
(SPLIT E) Public schools today are broken. School administrators, teachers unions, and other special interest groups fight anyone who challenges the status quo, so we need to create alternatives.

11. Top Voucher Opposition – Invest in Public Schools, DeVos MI Attack
For each statement, please indicate whether it is a very convincing, somewhat convincing, a little convincing, or not at all convincing reason to OPPOSE Trump's education priorities and budget proposal.
(SPLIT E) Instead of taking money out of public schools, we should invest in these schools to make them better for all students - reducing class sizes, improving teacher training and recruitment, and increasing parental involvement.
(SPLIT F) Instead of taking money out of public schools, we should invest in these schools to make them better by providing access for all students to programs like career and technical education (CTE) or science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
(SPLIT E) Trump's plan is driven by his hand-picked Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, a billionaire political donor who never attended or worked in a public school. DeVos pushed similar policies in Michigan, where millions of dollars have been funneled into unaccountable for-profit charter schools while public schools have been forced to cut critical programs.

12. Among Alternative Policy Proposals, Career and Technical Education Seen As Having Biggest Impact
Now, we're going to look at some other policy solutions that have been proposed to address the challenges facing our education system. For each one, please indicate whether you believe this proposal would have a major impact, a minor impact, or no real impact in improving education for American students.
Invest in career and technical education and training that prepares students who don't plan to go to college for good jobs. The federal government should help states create and expand opportunities for work-based learning, apprenticeships, and other ways to connect students to the local workforce and local employers.

13. More Than 60% Say More Support for Teachers Will Have Major Impact
Now, we're going to look at some other policy solutions that have been proposed to address the challenges facing our education system. For each one, please indicate whether you believe this proposal would have a major impact, a minor impact, or no real impact in improving education for American students.
Recruit and retain the best teachers through better training, more support, and professional salaries. Teachers should get paid at least as much as similarly educated professionals, and states and school districts should create career pathways for teachers that provide different roles and responsibilities as they gain experience and expertise

14. Consistent Belief in Impact of Expanded Access to STEM Training
Now, we're going to look at some other policy solutions that have been proposed to address the challenges facing our education system. For each one, please indicate whether you believe this proposal would have a major impact, a minor impact, or no real impact in improving education for American students.
Invest in expanding access to science, technology, engineering, and math courses, also known as STEM, that prepare students for college and the workforce. The federal government should provide funding for states and school districts to hire more STEM teachers and provide advanced STEM courses, including engineering and computer coding, in every high school

15. In Sum: Dos and Don’ts
We tested many arguments against vouchers. A few resonated more than others.
While progressives should tailor their arguments for their audience, arguments about losing civil rights protections or the potential for discrimination were less effective with the public than arguments about investing public money in public schools. Do
Don’t
Emphasize “public money for public schools”
Focus on accountability, potential discrimination, civil rights protections, and/or religious orientation of private schools to argue against vouchers
Frame in terms of values and kids
Frame in terms of systems, processes, protections
Use the phrase “private school vouchers”
Use the terms “(private) school choice,” “scholarship,” “tax credit,” or “education savings account”
Champion public school options, including charters and access to career and technical education
Bash private schools or charter schools
Offer a positive vision
Just critique vouchers
Tie vouchers to Trump/DeVos cuts to public education
Mention in isolation