(The Center Square) – With Virginia public schools not offering face-to-face tuition five days a week, a majority of residents support measures by the state to fund parents who choose to enroll their students in alternative education systems. after a survey released this week.

The survey, conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy, found that 61% of registered voters would support giving parents a portion of the state’s K-12 funding for private, virtual, or private tuition if the public schools classes remain personally closed. Support was greater than 50% in every region of the Commonwealth and for both large party affiliations and independents.

According to the Mason-Dixon results, 73% of Republicans said they would support this proposal, as did 59% of Independents and 53% of Democrats. It received support from 63% of black and 60% of white respondents.

Respondents also asked voters if they would support Governor Ralph Northam by providing parents with new state education aid directly for the purchase of educational technology and materials, private schooling, and home schooling.

While the support for it wasn’t that overwhelming, 51% of respondents said they would support the proposal. More than half of respondents in every region except Northern Virginia said they supported the proposal. It received support from 68 percent of Republicans, 62 percent of Independents, and 30 percent of Democrats. It was also supported by 53% of white and 44% of black respondents.

“These survey data clearly show that families are desperate for something more than the status quo,” said John Schilling, president of the American Federation of Children, in a statement. “The pandemic has only exacerbated the problems that have existed in our education system for some time. Parents want more ways to ensure their children are in the best learning environments. “

The Virginia legislature begins Wednesday, and Republican lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives have stated that one of their top priorities is providing financial assistance to parents who chose alternative education options during the pandemic. Legislation is expected to be sidelined by Democrats and teacher unions, who tend to argue that taxpayers’ money should be reserved for public education.

The Virginia Education Association did not respond to a request for comment from Center Square. Supporters of school choice and free market groups have largely spoken out in favor of these proposals.

“For now, parents and children should come first, and it is clear that parents across Virginia are urgently looking for new ways to improve their child’s education – not just during the pandemic but after this health crisis is over,” said Chris Braunlich, the free market president of the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, told The Center Square.

“Every child should receive high-quality education that prepares them for a productive life,” said Braunlich. “One way to help parents and children is to explore the educational support available through Community Service Block Grants that could provide parents with the tools and support they need right now. Another option would be for the Virginia General Assembly to approve Delegate Kirk Cox’s READ fund, which uses federal COVID funds for grants to parents without affecting existing public education funds. “

Jennifer Wagner, the vice president of communications at the nonprofit EdChoice, told The Center Square that states should provide students with additional schooling options, which would help all students.

“In the last 25 years we have spoken out in favor of funding after the student,” said Wagner. “Recently, several states have introduced educational savings accounts, or ESAs, that give families the flexibility they need to allocate the money earmarked for them.” [students]. As state lawmakers look beyond the pandemic to the future, ESAs allow parents to navigate the K-12 landscape in a way unique to each child, with guidelines in place to ensure funds are only approved for K-12 issues are issued. “

The Mason-Dixon survey was conducted between December 14th and 18th. She spoke to 625 registered voters by phone. The error rate is plus-minus 4 percentage points.