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September 28, 2006

New Jerseyans are all about school choice

The results of an E3-commissioned poll indicate strong support for school choice:

An overwhelming majority (74%) of New Jersey residents support establishing a corporate tax credit scholarship pilot program for students in four urban districts, a new poll of statewide opinions on school funding options revealed. A majority (54%) supports vouchers which would let parents "pay for tuition at the public, private, or religious school of their choice." 

The complete poll, including internals, is here.  Obviously support differs across demographic lines, but as the pollsters themselves concluded, "All in all, the survey results indicate majority public support for school choice and alternate funding mechanisms in New Jersey."  Interestingly, support for school choice even held up across party lines--and the tax credit program for urban scholarships got even more support from Dems than from Republicans (80 percent vs. 74 percent respectively). 

Who can blame New Jerseyans for feeling the way they do?  It's pretty much Milwaukee on a grander scale, and with even higher eduspending.  Bottom line: after skyrocketing spending and nothing to show for it, these folks seem willing to try just about anything. 

(And which organization conducted the poll?  Monmouth University Polling Institute.  Shhhh...nobody tell Jim Horn!)

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