By Trish Svoboda

As the debate on school choice policies escalates in America, the Kansas Legislature is set to make crucial decisions with potential impacts on parents and students statewide.

A recent poll conducted in December 2023 by SurveyUSA on behalf of the Kansas Policy Institute shows strong support from Johnson County, with 72% of voters supporting taxpayer-funded accounts for families with students facing academic challenges.

The poll also shows that despite record-setting funding in Kansas, a third of students are behind in reading and math. The average spend per student in Johnson County is $16,214, but as stated in a news release, 33% of high school students are below grade level in math, with 24% behind in reading.

The national trend towards educational options is apparent, with a poll by EdChoice showing that 68% of adults support Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). The American Federation for Children’s data shows that 76% of voters are more likely to support candidates endorsing school choice.

The poll also addresses K-12 education-related questions, revealing that 78% of Johnson County residents want school districts to face consequences if they fail to comply with the state law requiring needs assessments in each school as part of the budget process.