Poll reveals Americans split on for-profit charter schools

Americans tend to support charter schools but are divided about whether they should be run by for-profit companies.

A survey of 1,003 adults conducted by Scripps Howard News Service and Ohio University found that more than four in 10 adults say they know "almost nothing" about charter schools, which receive tax dollars but often are run independently from local school districts.

Among those who say they know enough to have an opinion, support for charter schools runs 2-to-1 in favor. Only 18 percent said charter schools are a bad idea, while about twice that many believe the schools are a positive trend.

"There is a severe knowledge deficit regarding charter schools in the United States. In our own national poll, only 20 percent of respondents correctly identified charter schools as 'public' schools," said Kara Hornung of the pro-charter Center for Education Reform, based in Washington. "But, through additional research, we know that support grows with awareness."

By nearly a four-to-one margin in the Scripps poll, people who have an opinion say students in charter schools are doing better on achievement tests than students from traditional schools.

Actually, because charter schools often are designed to serve under-performing students, charter-school students as a group are performing less well on standardized tests than students in traditional schools.

Respondents were asked: "Some charter schools are operated by for-profit corporations. Do you think that is a good idea or a bad idea?"

Thirty percent said private companies operating "public schools" was a "good idea." Another 36 percent said it was a "bad idea," and 34 percent were uncertain or gave other responses, such as "some are good, others bad."

Support of for-profit charter schools was slightly stronger among men, self-identified conservatives and Republicans. Support was weaker among women, liberals and Democrats.

The survey was conducted by telephone at Ohio University's Scripps Survey Research Center from May 11-28. The overall survey has a margin of error of about 3 percentage points.

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)