Which Townships Support Charter Schools? A Study of the 2016 Massachusetts Charter Referendum

Abstract

Objective. School choice controversies are not new, with cleavages in public opinion toward choice reflecting partisan, racial, and educational variables. Here, I examine factors predicting charter school support at the township level in the Massachusetts 2016 charter school expansion referendum. Methods. Using ordinary least square regression models, I test hypotheses developed from rational choice theory, political culture, and perspective theory. Results. Analyses find partisan, education, township size, and income affecting support for charter schools. Democratic and more educated voters and those living in smaller towns are more likely to support charter school expansion. Conclusion. The findings resonate with the current literature on political support for charter schools and contribute to current understanding of theories of voting behavior about education issues.