NM Supports School Choice

A September survey of 808 New Mexico registered voters by The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice in conjunction with the Rio Grande Foundation shows 2 to 1 support for school choice under each of three different funding options:

• Tax credits for donations to non-profit foundations that make tuition grants
  
• Publicly funded vouchers for families that reallocate school district funding
  
• Educational Savings Accounts

The survey showed that giving publicly funded vouchers to families for use at public schools or private religious and secular schools was favored

• by 3 to 2 in small towns, and by more than 2 to 1 in urban, suburban, and rural areas,
  
• by 3 to 2 among Democrats and by more than 2 to 1 among Republicans and Independents

A tax credit scholarship program for children with special needs was favored by 6 to 1. The survey questions explain the concepts of vouchers and tax-credit scholarships; all are reasonable and neutral.  Here is the voucher question:

Q16. A school voucher system allows parents the option of sending their child to the school of their choice, whether that school is public or private, including both religious and non-religious schools. If this policy were adopted, tax dollars currently allocated to a school district would be allocated to parents in the form of a school voucher to pay partial or full tuition for their child's school. In general, do you favor or oppose a school voucher system?

The survey used random digit dialing techniques to reach land lines and cell phones in 2 to 1 proportion.  Further details may be found here. This survey shows that, in contrast to Conservative fears, school choice is a winning issue for Republicans in the NM legislature.

These results suggest that a non-partisan group should formulate a pledge to vote for school choice legislation, circulate it for signature by members of and candidates for the New Mexico Legislature, and publicize up to date lists of those who have signed the pledge and those who have not