Statewide Poll: Perceptions of Local Control & Negative Effects of Charter Schools
Tennessee voters overwhelmingly oppose state-mandated charter schools, according to a poll by the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE), founded by former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.
Additionally, voters view traditional public schools more favorably than privately run charter schools — and they express concerns about the negative fiscal impacts that taxpayer-funded charters have on public schools.
Additionally, voters view traditional public schools more favorably than privately run charter schools — and they express concerns about the negative fiscal impacts that taxpayer-funded charters have on public schools.
Key findings include:
- By a nearly two-to-one margin, voters believe that elected local school boards — versus the appointed state charter school commission — should decide whether or not to approve new charter schools.
- Public schools enjoy considerably higher positive ratings than privately run charter schools. Sixty-eight percent of voters view public schools favorably, compared with a 41 percent favorable rating for charters.