WASHINGTON – PublicSchoolOptions.org released the following statement today on the results of the 2017 EdNext Poll on School Reform. The poll found declining support among Democrats and Republicans for charter schools. STATEMENT FROM TILLIE ELVRUM, PUBLICSCHOOLOPTIONS.ORG PRESIDENT AND PARENT ADVOCATE:“This poll should be a dramatic wake-up call for the self-appointed ‘leaders’ and ‘experts’ in the charter school movement who have publicly campaigned for increased regulation and oversight of schools that need to adapt to the needs of its students. Additionally, they have publicly advocated for fewer choices for parents, pushing the idea that only certain options should be available. They have walked away from the fundamental principle of trusting and empowering parents with their children’s education decisions. It’s not surprising that the entire charter school sector is now paying the price because of their circular firing squad. These leaders and experts should carefully note that other choice programs that are remaining true to the vision of empowering parents, like tax credit scholarships, did not suffer the precipice drop that charter schools suffered – in fact, poll numbers on those other choice programs saw a decrease in opposition.”###PublicSchoolOptions.org is a national alliance of parents that supports and defends parents’ rights to access the best public school options for their children. The Coalition supports the creation of public school options, including charter schools, online schools, magnet schools, open enrollment policies and other innovative education programs. Additionally, we advocate for equal access without restrictions to these public schools for all children.