DeVos outside mainstream? Poll shows strong support for more school choice in NC

Since her nomination as President Trump’s selection to lead the Department of Education the Left has painted Betsy DeVos as dangerous to public education and outside the mainstream. The Left launched an all-out assault on DeVos and in the final tally counted two GOP Senators within their camp. Yesterday however, Vice President Mike Pence cast the deciding vote and DeVos was officially confirmed.

DeVos has been a champion of education reform and school choice. Her efforts in these areas are the main reasons critics say she is outside the mainstream.   Is she? Results from a recent Civitas Poll on school choice suggest DeVos represents the views of the majority of North Carolina parents who want more school choice.

Results from several questions help to illustrate this point:

• When asked if resources were not a problem and you could select the best school for your child, 44 percent of respondents choose a traditional public school; 56 percent chose a charter, private home school or virtual school.
• When asked if parents support or oppose the Opportunity Scholarship Program, 71 percent of respondents said they favor or strongly favor the Opportunity Scholarship Program
• When asked if parents favor or oppose charter schools in North Carolina 70 percent of respondents said they favor or strongly favor Charter schools.

A high percentage of North Carolina parents want and support additional educational options for their children.  Betsy DeVos is a candidate that has worked decades to successfully expand those options for children in both public and private schools. In that sense, DeVos reflects the hopes and views of many parents.  She may just be the person many have been waiting for.