BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) – A new poll by UMass Amherst and WBZ shows that likely Massachusetts voters are favoring charter school expansion. The poll results show that 49 percent of likely voters support Question 2, which would pave the way for up to a dozen new charter schools in Massachusetts each year. 39 percent are against the ballot question, and 12 percent aren’t sure how they’ll vote in November.
The majority of those polled who support expanding charter schools identify as conservatives, are between 30 to 54-years-old, and earn more than $100,000 each year. Critics argue that charter schools siphon state funding from district schools that serve the majority of students.
State Rep. Alice Peisch, (D) Chair, CMTE. on Education “The biggest difference between districts and charters, quite frankly, is that those charters that are not performing get shut down,” State Representative Alice Peisch said. “Whereas in the district, there’s a much more cumbersome process for improving the schools. I think that’s something that we really need to address.”
The deadline to register to vote for the November 8th Election is October 19th.
