NSEA poll shows support for public schools over charter schools
A majority of Nebraskans don’t think public tax dollars should pay for charter schools, a Nebraska State Education Association poll shows.
The poll, conducted by Research Associates for the NSEA, asked 900 Nebraskans equally divided among the three congressional districts their feelings about charter schools, vouchers, teacher quality and other school issues.
Of those polled, 65 percent did not think charter schools should be funded with public tax dollars and 55 percent opposed using tax dollars to pay for school vouchers in Nebraska.
“In the face of considerable national negativity surrounding our public schools, the poll ... shows Nebraska really does like their public schools and they love their public schoolteachers,” NSEA President Nancy Fulton said at a news conference Friday. “It found Nebraskans have a uniquely Nebraska view of school choice.”
Katie Linehan, executive director of Educate Nebraska, a new organization created to advance the school-choice agenda, discounted the poll as being biased, saying the only valid information was that nearly three quarters of Nebraskans support public school choice.
"Unfortunately, this survey does not give us any insight into additional education options that should be available to children and families in Nebraska," she said. "Charter schools are public schools and are held accountable for results. They are not randomly created by individuals or organizations without oversight."
More than 70 percent of poll respondents said they knew about the state’s public school choice law that allows parents to send students to any Nebraska school.
Although a Legislative bill that would have authorized charter schools in Omaha failed last year, the school choice movement has gained traction in Nebraska in recent years and is supported by Gov. Pete Ricketts.
Several charter school opponents, including state Sens. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln and Tanya Cook of Omaha, spoke at the news conference.
Pansing Brooks said education is the best way to combat poverty and anything that diverts the Legislature from funding public schools -- which accepts all students regardless of the challenges they face -- is a mistake.
The NSEA’s Fulton said charter schools nationally have had mixed results with student achievement. The success of Nebraska’s public school system, she said, is evident in NSEA poll shows support for public schools over charter schools : Lincoln, NE Journal Star: