EDUCATION TAX CREDITS FAVORED AS EMPOWERING FOR PARENTS

June 13 , 2001

CONTACT:  McLaughlin & Associates
  STUART POLK, Vice President
   spolk@mclaughlinonline.com (703/518-4445)

NATIONAL MEDIA RELEASE

A McLaughlin & Associates national survey, conducted for National Capital Strategies between May 21-23, 2001 among 1,000 likely voters, tested various education tax credit initiatives among likely voters.  The results strongly indicate that education tax credits are very popular, and voters think that education tax credits empower parents in making decisions about their children's education.  Specifically, education tax credits will attract support from key voting groups such as low-income families, suburban women, Catholics, and African-Americans.

Unlike vouchers, education tax credits meet with wide approval by voters.  In addition, most voters already have a clear understanding of education tax credits and realize that education tax credits will help improve education and give parents more school choice.

Voters also approve of giving individuals and corporations tax credits for contributions made to a qualified student tuition organization or to a public school for construction, renovation, or technological enhancement; however, the more popular education tax credits include more usages for parents — the broader, the better.

Key Findings

The following are the key survey results from this latest national education study:

 

"Do you agree or disagree with the following statement:  'Education tax credits give parents more opportunities to choose which school their children attend.' "

Agree 65.8% Disagree 28.8% DK/Refused 5.4%

Regarding the effectiveness of education tax credits, two-thirds (65.8%) of the voters agree that "education tax credits give parents more opportunities to choose which school their children attend."  Only 28.8% of the voters disagree with the statement.  The majority of voters are well aware of the benefit that education tax credits poses for parents.

 

"Do you approve or disapprove of providing parents with a $2,000 educational tax credit, per child, to be used for computers, books, tutoring, or any other educational expense, including tuition?"

Approve 70.1% Disapprove 24.5% DK/Refused 5.4%

Specifically, 7 in 10 voters approve of providing parents with a $2,000 educational tax credit, per child, to be used for computers, books, tutoring, or any other educational expense, including tuition.  Of the tested education tax credits, this one is the most popular.  The voters see this education tax credit as a broad-based initiative that gives every parent a meaningful tax credit that can be used for various educational expenses, including tuition.

The popularity of this education tax credit cuts across all major voting segments, including ideology, party, income, and race.  Specifically, the approval of this education tax credit increases among key voting groups that the Republicans need to target.  This education tax credit is a means toward reaching out to moderates, voters who don't have an opinion of George W. Bush, voters who say education is the most important issue, independents, households with total incomes under $40,000 a year, Catholics, voters 40 years of age and younger, and African-Americans.

 

"Do you approve or disapprove of providing parents with a $1,000 educational tax credit, per child, to be used for computers, books, tutoring, or any other educational expense, other than tuition?"

Approve 65.4% Disapprove 28.9% DK/Refused 5.7%

Nearly two-thirds of the voters approve of providing parents with a $1,000 educational tax credit, per child, to be used for computers, books, tutoring, or any other educational expense, other than tuition.  This tax credit is very popular, although not quite as popular as the one that included tuition.  This education tax credit also crosses all voting segments, including key targeted groups.  The support for this education tax credit grows among voters in the East, liberals, voters who have a favorable opinion of George W. Bush, voters who said education is most important, households with an income of $40,000 a year or less, voters 40 years of age and younger, African-Americans, and men.

More than 3 in 5 voters approve of providing low-income families with education tax credits so they can send their children to the school of their choice, whether public, private, or church-run.  The approval of this low-income family education tax credit increases among voters in the East, conservatives, voters who have a favorable opinion of George W. Bush, voters who have no opinion of George W. Bush, Republicans, households with an income of $40,ooo a year or less, Catholics, voters 40 years of age and younger, and African-Americans.

Two-thirds of the voters approve of giving individuals a 75% federal tax credit up to $500 for contributions made to a qualified student tuition organization or to a public school for construction, renovation, or technology.  This sentiment is reflected across all major voting groups.  Specifically, this support increses among voters in the East and South, conservatives, voters who have no opinion of George W. Bush, Republicans, voters who said education is the most important issue, lower and higher income households, Protestants, voters 40 years of age and younger, and African-Americans.

Nearly 3 in 5 voters approve of giving corporations a 75% federal tax credit up to $100,000 for contributions made to a qualified student tuition organization or to a public school for construction, renovation, or technology.  This public opinion grows among voters in the East and South, conservatives, voters who have a favorable opinion of George W. Bush, Republicans, voters who said education is the most important issue, households with an income of $40,000 a year or less, Protestants, voters 40 years of age and younger, and African-Americans.

You may also view a set of tables breaking these totals down into the key demographic groups cited.  Click here to download; the questions and tables are viewable in Microsoft Word 2000 for Windows.

Methodology: This national survey of political attitudes was conducted for National Capital Strategies from May 21-23, 2001, among 1,000 likely general election voters.  All interviews were conducted by professional interviewers via telephone. Interview selection was at random within predetermined election units. These units were structured to correlate statistically with actual voter distributions in statewide general elections.

The accuracy of this national survey is within ± 3.1%, at a 95% confidence interval.

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