yes. every kid. urges legislators to listen to families and pass education bill
COLUMBUS, Ohio — According to a new poll conducted by WPA Intelligence and released by yes. every kid., Ohio voters support implementing an Education Savings Account (ESA) program by a nearly five-to-one margin, with 64% supporting and 13% opposing.
ESAs empower families with funding to access educational resources, such as online learning programs, private tutoring, education therapies, and other expenses.
Additionally, a majority of voters (74%) indicated support for school choice, where parents, instead of the government, are allowed to choose the best school for their child.
“Ohio families want the ability to customize their children’s education,” said Executive Director Craig Hulse. “Every kid is different and deserves access to educational opportunities that take into account these differences.”
Legislation introduced today in Ohio, HB 11, also known as the Backpack Scholarship Program, would replace an existing program and allow for the creation of ESAs for students in grades K–12. This program would allow educational funding to follow students to the school that best suits their needs.
“The Ohio Legislature has the opportunity to empower families to make the best decisions when it comes to their children’s learning experiences,” said Hulse. “We thank Reps. Riordan McClain and Marilyn John, along with all the bill co-sponsors, for their leadership in proposing landmark legislation that would empower families and improve access to educational experiences that fit children’s unique learning styles.”
With the passing of this legislation, Ohio would become the third state in the nation to advance ESA legislation in 2023.
The poll was conducted by WPA Intelligence from Feb. 6–8, 2023. WPA Intelligence interviewed a total of 556 likely voters with a margin of error of ±4.2%.
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