Policymaking rarely escapes politics, especially during election season. For the issue of parental school choice, the dynamic is no different. Most Georgians think that if something has broad bipartisan support, it should be enacted, but our national politics has all kinds of dysfunctional partisanship that makes even the most commonsense and popular solutions a tough mountain to climb, particularly at the state level.
There are multiple viewpoints on the growth of parental school choice and while it is a part of the national conversation on education, every state’s legislature grapples with it differently. In Georgia, it’s important to remember that whether voters are for or against the expansion of parental school choice, everyone believes that way because their motivations are rooted in the right place – the future generations of our country.
As voters delve into the debates surrounding the bills currently advancing through the Georgia legislature, it’s crucial to establish that common foundation. This shared ground provides context for understanding the diverse perspectives at play. Recent polling data from across the state offers valuable insights into how voters perceive this issue. By examining these sentiments, we gain a clearer picture of the public’s stance on the matter.
Beyond the broad state-level view, we zoomed in on the intricate political dynamics of 14 key districts within the Georgia state house. These districts hold the keys to legislative success or failure and their composition can sway the balance of power and significantly impact whether the proposed parental school choice legislation becomes law.
In our survey data, we find that among Republican voters in these critical districts, a resounding 71 percent endorse parental school choice programs described as initiatives to empower parents to allocate their education dollars. In these districts, that level of support can be seen as a testament to the ongoing discourse around education policy.
Additionally, 66 percent of those voters said they would be less likely to support their state legislator if they voted against a school choice initiative. All 14 districts in that poll showed support north of 64 percent. Only 13 percent said they would be more likely to support their representative if they opposed school choice measures, which was less than one point shy of those who said it made no difference at all. That is a delta of 56 percent. Some might call that a mandate. This means voters are paying attention to the developments on this issue and while politicians are going to fight it out in the legislature, they cannot ignore what their constituents think about the state’s education system and the role of parental school choice in making it better.
Voters are clearly offering a compelling incentive for lawmakers in those districts and statewide to advance legislation that gives parents more of a say in where their children attend school and what kind of education they receive.
Pundits and politicians alike either complain and decry polling data or wield it with reckless abandon, but sometimes an issue surfaces where the data is crystal clear. That issue, parental school choice, is front and center in political debates happening right now in the legislature and polling data offers a critical snapshot as to how voters feel and think about the issue. It informs policymakers and the media who cover them.
While most families don’t see educational choice as a question of politics, these voters have made it clear who they will support and why. They also understand Georgia’s emerging role as a national battleground in electoral politics makes getting the issue of school choice all the more important.
According to data included in the same surveys above, Governor Kemp enjoys favorability ratings of 77 percent among primary voters. These are highly engaged and well-informed voters, many of whom are parents themselves, who will follow important legislative issues like parental school choice and base their decisions in November on it.
Governor Kemp and all of Georgia’s legislators have the same motivation of building a better educational future for our children and the latest polling data can help inform them on where their constituents stand on the issue – that’s a reliable bridge between policy and politics.
Chris Lane is a pollster and Director of Client Strategy at Cygnal.
