HOUSTON — Most Texas adults agree with arguments against school vouchers, but in the end, they still would support legislation that makes such programs available to all families in the state, according to a new survey released this week.
The University of Houston and Texas Southern University survey asked 2,257 adults about their opinions on school vouchers, programs that let families use taxpayer dollars to pay for their children’s private schooling, and education savings accounts, a form of vouchers that state leaders like Gov. Greg Abbott have advocated for since last year.
The survey also asked respondents whether they agreed with some of the most common arguments made against and in favor of vouchers. Proponents argue vouchers give families more choices to pick the school that is best for their children while opponents worry they divert money away from already struggling public schools.
The survey data, which showed strong support among minorities, was presented at the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's State of Hispanics Data Summit and Business Expo on Thursday.
Seventy percent of Black adults supported creating a school voucher program that all Texas families have access to, and 72% supported school voucher legislation that would only benefit low-income families. Black adults were also the most likely to agree with arguments against school voucher legislation like “vouchers/ESAs funnel money away from already struggling public schools” and “vouchers/ESAs provide funding to private schools and individuals with only limited accountability for how the funds are used.”
“I think it has to do in part with a growing share of African Americans who look at their public schools and believe that their public schools are failing them, and don't believe that without some type of change, like the adoption of vouchers, that situation is going to change anytime soon,” said Rice University's Mark Jones, one of the study's authors.
Jim Granato, dean of Hobby School of Public Affairs agreed saying minorities want "the ability to put their child in a school that will give them a better chance."
"The attitudes towards school vouchers, two-thirds of the people in this state support it, and the Hispanic population actually supports a little more than the norms in the state," Granato said. "And in fact, what's even more interesting is the Black and Black Republicans support up about 80%, Black Democrats less than that, but almost the same."
People who identified as Republicans were much more likely to support legislation that would create a voucher program for all families in Texas and less likely to support a proposal only for low-income families, the survey found.
Meanwhile, Democrats were more likely to support a voucher program just for low-income families. White Democrats were the least supportive of a voucher program for all families.
The survey didn’t find a significant difference in support for vouchers between respondents in rural, suburban and urban parts of the state.
Vouchers were Abbott’s top legislative priority last year. Proposals for an education savings account program were ultimately blocked by a coalition of Texas House Democrats and rural Republicans, who have traditionally opposed vouchers.
During this year’s primary elections, Abbott campaigned heavily against Republican incumbents who voted against vouchers, unseating several. Abbott has said the Texas House now has enough votes to pass a voucher program during next year’s legislative session.
This story comes, in part, from The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans - and engages with them - about public policy, politics, government, and statewide issues. Read more here.