Majority opposes ESA program that would exclude rural communities
AUSTIN, Texas — A new poll conducted by WPA Intelligence on behalf of yes. every kid. foundation. found the majority of Texans support implementing an Education Savings Account (ESA) program by a nearly three-to-one margin, with 60% supporting and 21% opposing.
ESAs empower families with funding to access educational resources, such as online learning programs, private tutoring, education therapies, and other expenses.
A majority of respondents (70%) oppose an ESA version that would limit participation to families in urban communities, excluding rural communities. Only 16% of respondents indicated support for excluding rural communities.
“Texas families want education freedom for every Texas family,” said Executive Director Andrew Clark. “Every child—not just urban children or rural children—deserves access to an educational experience that works best for them.”
An overwhelming majority (94%) agreed that Texas students should have access to the best public schools, regardless of race or income. When asked whether all Texas kids should be able to attend a public school they are not zoned for, a majority of respondents (68%) agreed, with 19% opposing.
“School zoning boundaries perpetuate social divisions of class and race,” said Clark. “For too long, school zones have contributed to creating a two-tiered system education system. It’s past time to give every family equal access to choose the public school that works best for their kid.”
The poll was conducted by WPA Intelligence from Feb. 8–13, 2023. WPA Intelligence surveyed 815 registered voters with a margin of error of ±3.4%.