Statewide Poll of Tennessee Republican Primary Voters Finds Overwhelming Support for Expanding School Choice, Improved School Performance

Nashville TN– A new statewide poll of likely Tennessee Republican Primary Voters (RPVs) finds overwhelming support for expanding school choice while strengthening accountability, transparency, and academic performance across public education.

The December 2025 survey, conducted by Anchor Research on behalf of TennesseeCAN Action Fund, builds on similar polling conducted in June 2025 and shows a Republican electorate increasingly focused on giving families more education options while demanding stronger results and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

Key Findings:

School Choice

• 61% support expanding Education Freedom Scholarships; 31% oppose
• 62% support growing high-performing charter schools
• 58% support increasing state funding for charter schools
• 68% support open enrollment across district and county lines

Public Education Accountability & Transparency

• 87% support A–F school letter grades
• 75% support state testing to measure student learning
• 84% support required reporting on how Tennessee’s $13B+ public education investment is spent
• 92% support encouraging districts to spend resources based on students’ academic needs

Political Importance

• 69% say improving education is extremely or very important when voting for state legislative offices
• Among the most consistent primary voters, that rises to 76%
• Education ranks as the third most important issue statewide for RPVs

“Heading into this year’s election, this poll sends a clear message: voters strongly support expanding school choice while demanding accountability and transparency in public education,” said Chelsea Crawford, executive director of TennesseeCAN Action Fund. “Families want options, taxpayers want answers, and voters are ready for reforms that produce results for kids.”

Support for Education Freedom Is Broad and Deep

• Statewide, Tennessee RPVs support expanding Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship program by a 61% – 31% margin.
• Support for expanding Education Freedom Scholarships remains strong across voter subgroups:
  • Trump-aligned Republicans: +45% support margin
  • Very conservative voters: +47% support margin
  • Rural voters: 60% support, 32% oppose
• By a 69%–20% margin, RPVs say they are more likely to vote for a state legislative candidate who supported Donald Trump’s agenda to expand school choice over one who opposed Education Freedom Scholarships. Among very conservative voters, that margin grows to 80%–11%.

Voters Prefer Candidates Who Support School Choice

• A total of 69% of RPVs say the issue of improving education is either extremely or very important to them when deciding who to vote for State Legislative offices.
  • Among 3/4+ RPVs, a total of 76% say improving education is either extremely or very important to them.
    
• On the open-ended question asking voters, “What is the MOST important issue facing the state of Tennessee,” the issue of education ranks as the third overall issue for RPVs.

Voters Have a Clear Confidence Gap in School Quality

• Traditional public schools: 62% rated fair or poor; 28% excellent or good
• Private schools: 57% rated excellent or good; 19% fair or poor.

Regionally, RPVs in the Tri-Cities are most optimistic about public schools, while Memphis and Chattanooga voters are the most pessimistic. Perceptions of private education follow the opposite trend.

Charter Schools Receive Strong Backing

• By a 62%–20% margin, RPVs support expanding high-performing charter schools. Support is strongest among Trump-aligned and very conservative voters. Voters also back increased state funding for charter schools by a 58%–31% margin.

Academic Foundations Are Priorities 

• 86% say grade-level performance in reading, writing, and math is “very important”
• 85% emphasize math and data science readiness for the workforce
• 82% want schools to prepare students for the future economy

Teachers’ Unions Viewed Unfavorably

• Only 15% of RPVs hold a favorable view of teachers’ unions, while 58% hold an unfavorable view—including 45% strongly unfavorable. Among Trump-aligned voters, unfavorable views rise to 70%.

About the survey: 

Anchor Research surveyed 635 likely Tennessee Republican Primary Voters from December 2–4, 2025 using live calls (cell and landline) and text-to-web outreach.

• • Media Market: Nashville 39%; Knoxville 24%; Memphis 11%; Chattanooga 10%; Tri-Cities 10%; Jackson 4%
  • Age: 18-34 9%; 35-54 27%; 55-64 25%; 65+ 39%
  • Gender: Male 49%, Female 51%
  • Education: <College 48%; College+ 52%