Editor’s note: This analysis appeared Monday on thetexan.news.
A new poll from the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs indicates strong support for school choice in the Lone Star State, even among minorities and rural communities with fewer options.
Conducted in January 2023, the survey asked 1,200 respondents from across the state about taxpayer-funded vouchers that could be used to attend private or religious schools and tax credits for individuals and corporate donations that pay for private school scholarships.
According to results released Monday, 61% of Texans support educational vouchers for low-income families and 53% support vouchers for all families regardless of income. Among Black respondents, 78% said they support vouchers for low-income families and 65% support vouchers for all.
Support was high among Latinos as well, with 64% in favor of vouchers for low-income parents and 54% in favor of vouchers for all parents.
Both minority groups also supported tax credits for school choice scholarships for low-income families with 79% of Black and 63% of Latino respondents favoring the proposal.
Although in previous years representatives from rural communities have expressed opposition to legislation allowing parents to use tax dollars for the school of their choice, the survey found 59% of respondents in rural counties favored vouchers and 62% for all families regardless of income.
When parsed by party affiliation, the poll found 57% of all Democrats, 78% of Black Democrats, and 57% of Latino Democrats supported vouchers for low-income families. Only white Democrats expressed opposition.
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