Tennessee Hispanics Demand More Educational Options
WASHINGTON, DC – A new survey finds Tennessee Hispanics are dissatisfied with many aspects of the state’s public schools and would favor the availability of more educational options for low-income families and those with special needs.
The statewide survey was released by the Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options and seven other organizations in an effort to gauge voter’s attitudes about the state’s K-12 education system.
“It’s clear the state’s Hispanic voters want more than just the status quo in education,” said Maite Arce, vice president of Hispanic CREO. “When it comes to education, there is a growing desire for parents to have more freedom – the ability to select a school that is suited to their individual child’s needs. This is evident when only 20 percent of Hispanics polled would keep their child in public school.”
Key findings in Tennessee, which has the fourth highest growth rate for Hispanics in the nation, include:
- 55 percent of the Hispanic voters polled rated the Tennessee public school as “poor” or “fair.”
- Hispanic voters felt that overcrowding of classrooms and schools (45 percent), as well as lack of parental involvement (18 percent), are the biggest challenges facing public schools.
- Only 20 percent would send their child to a public school, if they had an opportunity to choose any type of school. 62 percent would choose to send their child to either a private school or charter school.
- 65 percent of the Hispanic voters polled believe school vouchers should be made available to low-income families, to families with special education children, or to families with children in failing public schools.
The scientifically representative poll of 1,200 likely Tennessee voters was conducted January 11-13, 2008 by Strategic Vision, and has a margin of error +/- 3 percent. Poll co-sponsors include local organizations Tennessee Center for Policy Research, Memphis Opportunity Scholarships Trust and Tennessee Tax Revolt, as well as national organizations the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, Agudath Israel of America, the Black Alliance for Educational Options and the American Legislative Exchange Council.
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