UT Tyler poll shows registered voters support new education laws in Texas

TYLER, Texas (KETK) — The University of Texas at Tyler Center for Opinion Research surveyed more than a thousand Texas voters earlier this month to gauge public opinion on current K-12 education policies.

1. Do you support or oppose the state establishing a $1 billion Education and Savings Account program with universal eligibility for all Texas schoolchildren to attend the school of their choice, public or private, if participation in the program is voluntary for families and schools?

Of those who were polled and are parents, 60% said they either strongly or somewhat supported S.B. 2, which would give parents the option to enroll their children into any school with about $10,000 to pay towards tuition.

Sixty-two percent of parents from small towns said they strongly supported (32%) or somewhat supported (26%) the program. However, metropolitan areas with a population of less than 250,000 people were less likely (45%) to support the program.

On May 3, Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill, which establishes the program starting Sept. 1.

“When I ran for re-election in 2022, I promised Texans that we will bring education freedom to every Texas family,” Gov. Abbott said. “Today, Texas delivers on that promise. I am signing this law that will ensure Texas families, whose children can no longer be served by the public school assigned to them, have the choice to take their money and find the school that is right for them.”

2. Do you support or oppose requiring a copy of the Ten Commandments be placed in each public school classroom?

At the time of this survey, this law had not been passed, but on June 20, Gov. Abbott signed Senate Bill 10, requiring every Texas public elementary and secondary school classroom to display a copy of the Ten Commandments.

The survey conducted saw an almost even split, with 45% supporting S.B. 10 and 40% opposing.

The poll was further split up into political party opinion, which saw 50% of Democrats strongly opposing and 42% of Republicans strongly supporting. Twenty-five percent of Independent voters strongly supported the bill, while 21% strongly opposed it.

The American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups announced plans to challenge the bill they believe to be unconstitutional.

3. Do you support or oppose a law providing time for students and staff to pray in public schools?

Gov. Abbott also signed Senate Bill 11 into law on June 20, requiring Texas public schools to allow for a period of time to pray or read various religious texts beginning in September.

Though many of those polled were split about the Ten Commandments being displayed in public schools, the survey found many registered voters supported S.B. 11. Fifty-six percent of the voters at least supported this idea, with only 28% opposing it.

The new law saw major support from the Republican Party (68%), with only 20% opposing. On the other hand, 39% of the Democratic Party supports the bill and 42% oppose.

To learn more about Senate Bills 2, 10 and 11, visit the Texas Legislature.