New Poll Shows Maryland Voters Appreciate Non-Public Schools
Orthodox Union co-sponsored poll indicates broad support for Education Tax Credits

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America – the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization – through its Institute for Public Affairs announced the results of a scientifically valid survey, which indicated support for non-public schools and education tax credits among Maryland voters.

The survey, conducted by the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice was cosponsored by a coalition of nonpublic school organizations including the Orthodox Union, the Maryland Catholic Conference, the Mid-Atlantic Catholic Schools Consortium, and Agudath Israel of Maryland indicated Maryland voters appreciate the role nonpublic schools play in educating thousands of children each year and in the savings they bring to the state. A majority also expressed support for a business tax credit scholarship program.

OU Director of Public Policy Nathan Diament stated:

“This poll proves private schools, including yeshivas and Jewish day schools, enjoy the good will and support of Marylanders across the state across income and ethnic boundaries. It also confirms once they learn the true value and savings to the taxpaying public these schools provide, and the strain tuition places on middle and low income families, they support efforts to help families and schools. That’s good news for all of us, as smart investment today will keep the state from spending millions more in the future.”

Similar tax credit programs, supported by the OU in other states, have raised hundreds of millions of dollars for education in both public and nonpublic schools while not decreasing any funds from public school budgets.

OU Deputy Director of Public Policy Howie Beigelman stated

“We look forward to working with elected officials across the state to act on these poll results in a way that helps struggling families and increases educational opportunity for all.”

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