ONLY ONLINE: Majority of La. voters want expanded voucher program, survey says

Roughly six of every 10 Louisiana voters support an expansion of the state's school voucher program-with support as high as 67% in some New Orleans area parishes-according to a new poll released today by the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice.

The statewide poll, commissioned by the Friedman Foundation, found that 63% of Louisiana voters support school vouchers to give parents an option other than their local public school. "Voters in the Bayou State give high marks to school choice and want more kids to have school choice," says Friedman Foundation President/CEO Robert Enlow in a prepared statement. "This poll clearly demonstrates that vouchers are  in demand and Louisiana voters support it." Braun Research conducted the poll over eight days in late February with more than 1,100 voters. Locally, the survey found 57% of East Baton Rouge Parish voters said they support an expansion of the voucher program. In Livingston Parish, 53% said the same. Education reform, including an expansion of the voucher program piloted in New Orleans, is being debated in the legislative session that kicked off last week.