EdChoice’s 2026 Schooling in America survey confirms a point school choice advocates should not miss: Education Savings Accounts remain popular, but many Americans still do not know what they are.
That is the communications problem in one sentence.
EdChoice released the 2026 survey on August 11. The survey, now in its 14th year, was fielded from March 24 to April 4, 2026. It included nationally representative samples of 1,504 adults and 2,466 current school parents. EdChoice says the survey combines online panels with probability-based live-phone interviews.
The survey is national, so it does not tell us exactly where Iowans stand. But the gap between support before and after a basic ESA description is hard to ignore in a state where ESAs are already law.
Support Climbs After ESAs Are Explained
The headline number is strong: 78 percent of the general public and 84 percent of school parents supported ESAs after receiving a description. Among parents, 65 percent said they would use an ESA if one were available. Only 13 percent said they would not. Another 22 percent were unsure.
But the more useful number comes before the explanation.
Without a description of ESAs, support stood at 54 percent among the general public and 64 percent among school parents. After respondents received a description, support rose by 24 points among adults and 20 points among parents.
That tells us something advocates should take seriously: many people are not rejecting ESAs. They have not had ESAs clearly explained to them.
A National Awareness Gap With Iowa Implications
This represents a communications challenge.
Iowa has already adopted Education Savings Accounts, and families across the state are using them to choose the school that best fits their children. But much of the public debate still reflects confusion over what the program is, how it works, and how it differs from vouchers and other school choice policies.
When people start with only a vague idea of what an ESA is, clear (or murky) definitions can shape how they respond.
If support climbs sharply once people hear a basic description, advocates need to start with the basics. What is an ESA? Who can use it? What expenses are allowed? How are funds used? How is the program different from a voucher? What choices does it open for families who otherwise could not afford them?
Confusion helps the opponents of school choice. Clarity helps parents.
Federal Scholarships Face the Same Problem
The survey also points to another challenge now facing Iowa schools and community partners: the new Federal Tax Credit for Scholarships.
EdChoice found that 61 percent of Americans and 72 percent of school parents supported the Federal Tax Credit for Scholarships. Yet awareness remains low. Only 17 percent of Americans and 26 percent of school parents said they had heard “a great deal” or “a lot” about it. EdChoice describes the policy as a dollar-for-dollar federal income tax credit for donations to eligible Scholarship Granting Organizations, with the program taking effect January 1, 2027.
That is the same pattern: broad support, weak awareness.
When a policy is supported but poorly understood, advocates need to define ESAs plainly and repeat the basics.
That is especially true in Iowa, where ESAs are already helping parents make real school decisions. Families need to know that ESA funds are used first for tuition and fees, who qualifies, what options are nearby, and what steps come next. Taxpayers deserve accurate information about funding, permitted uses, and accountability.
The same applies to the federal scholarship opportunity. Schools, donors, community partners, and families cannot use what they do not understand.
The lesson for Iowa is plain: define the program before someone else defines it for you. ESAs should be explained by what they actually do for families, not by the labels opponents attach to them.