Key Findings Colorado Statewide Education Survey December 13, 2011 Lori Weigel Partner Chris Keating President

Key FindingsColorado Statewide Education

Survey December 13, 2011

Lori WeigelPartner

Chris Keating

President

Colorado Statewide Education Survey Slide 2

• To better understand voter attitudes around the quality of public education, what makes a good school and willingness to increase funding

• To determine the voter priorities on the various aspects of public education within ECE-12 schools and higher education

• To better understand how to frame the debate around improving Colorado public schools and funding

• The purpose of this poll is not to determine the best solution or remedy to the state budget and education funding problem


• 901 telephone interviews statewide with registered 2012 likely-voters

• Overall margin of error of 3.27% at the 95% confidence interval for the total sample; sub-groups vary

• Bi-partisan research team of Public Opinion Strategies and Keating Research, Inc.

• Live telephone interviews conducted November 6-9, 2011 including traditional land lines and cell phones

• Interviews distributed proportionally throughout the state and demographically representative of the electorate


• We are in a time of great economic uncertainty and low confidence in government.

• The poor economy brings education to the forefront with half of Colorado voters naming education as one of the top issues facing the state. Most focus on education funding as the greatest concern.

• Majorities of voters say too little is being spent on K-12 education, funding should be increased, and they are willing to pay more in taxes to increase funding. Only a minority say that funding should be increased a lot.

• Voters perceive anything related to higher education as less important than many aspects of K-12 education. Voters are far less willing to pay increased taxes, and perceptions continue to be divided over whether too much or too little money flows into this area.


• Voters want students to learn the basics with a good teacher in a safe environment. Getting rid of ineffective teachers is viewed as very important, but not something that is currently done well.

• A quick simulation of messaging and additional information about where Colorado ranks in education is not enough to significantly shift opinion. Education is a familiar topic and it will take a great deal to move numbers.

• Teachers and “employers” and Governor Hickenlooper are the best messengers of information about public education.


Nearly half of voters mention education as one of the most important issues facing Colorado

What would you say are the most important issues or challenges facing Colorado? Multiple response question

Environment, pollution and brown cloud

Illegal immigration and illegal immigrants

Transportation

Health Care

Other issues or problems

State Budget/Government/Taxes

Education

Jobs/Economy

5%

6%

7%

8%

8%

22%

44%

64%

% Ranked by Top Mention


School funding, schools need more money and school funding cuts

Improve school quality and schools are poor quality

More, better qualified teachers

Higher education issue

Reduce administrative waste

Reduce class sizes, class sizes are too large

In fact, more than one-third point to school funding specifically as one of the top challenges facing the state. It dominates all other aspects of education.

% Ranked by Total Aspect of Education


What is the biggest problem or challenge facing K-12 public schools in Colorado?

The problem is funding and resources

“Budget.” “Budget cuts.”

“Funding.” “Money.” “Resources.”

“Underfunded.”

“Qualified teachers.”

“Good teachers.”

“Overcrowding of schools.” “Overpopulation.”

“Overcrowding in the classroom and cutting programs.”


What is the biggest problem or challenge facing K-12 public schools in Colorado?


August 2005 November 2011

7%3%

35%

27%

42%39%

8%

15%

3%6%

A B C D Fail

3-in-10 voters grade public schools as an A or a B. A drop from 4-in-10 in 2005

“Now I would like you to think about the Kindergarten through 12th grade public schools in Colorado. Many teachers use the letters A, B, C, D or Fail to grade their students. Suppose you have the opportunity to grade the K through 12th grade public schools in Colorado, what grade

would you give them? An A, B, C, D or Fail?”


More Than Anything School Quality is a Partisan Issue

Democrats Independents Republicans

3630

23

3540 43

1418

27

A/B C D/F

ABC News / Washington Post Poll. Oct 31- Nov.3 2011 Nationwide


When you think of a good public school, what is the most important quality or characteristic that comes to mind?

A good school is defined by quality teachers

“Teachers.”

“Good teachers.”

“Quality teachers.”

“Strong teachers.”

“Basic education, read, write, spell, math.”

“Get back to the basics.”

“Academics.”

“Ability to prepare kids for college and life in general, more emphasis on education.”


When you think of a good public school, what is the most important quality or characteristic that comes to mind?


K-12 Higher Education

16% 18%

54%

34%

24%

36%

Too Much Too Little About Right Amount

A majority of voters say too little is spent on K-12 education, while voters are more likely to say higher education spending is about right

-38 -16

“Thinking about the tax dollars that are spent on education in Colorado. Do you feel that too much is being spent on K through 12th grade education / Colorado’s public colleges, do you think too little is being spent, or do you feel what is now being spent is about the right

amount?”


Series1

56%

10%

30%

Increased Decreased Kept the Same

A majority say that funding should be increased for K-12 public schools

27%A Lot

“Do you think funding for K through 12th grade public schools in Colorado needs to be increased, decreased or should it be kept the same? Do you think funding for public schools in Colorado

needs to be increased a lot, some, or just a little?”

22%Some

7%Little / don’t

know


K-12 Higher Education

56%

42%40%

55%

Willing Not Willing

The willingness to pay more in taxes for K-12 education and higher education dramatically differs

46%Strongly

“Would you be willing, or not willing, to pay more in taxes to increase funding for K through 12th grade public schools / Colorado’s public colleges and universities?” Do you feel strongly

about that, or not?”

30%Strongly

43%Strongly

33%Strongly


Grade schools A/B Grade schools C Grade schools D/F

71%

60%

32%27%

38%

66%

Willing Not Willing

Voters who grade schools A/B are most willing to pay increased taxes for K-12 education

“Would you be willing, or not willing, to pay more in taxes to increase funding for K through 12th grade public schools in Colorado?

+22+44

-34


Oct. 2011: 7.6%

Lowest level in 2

years

Colorado Unemployment rate 2001 - 2011

Sept. 2005: 5.1%

Lingering High Unemployment Creates Uncertainty


Education is much more likely to be voiced as the top issue facing the state today than in the past

1998 1999 2001 2002 2003 2004 2008 2011

3% 3%

14% 13%

10%

5%7%

21%

*In previous surveys conducted on behalf of Rocky Mountain News the question was phrased, “What would you say is the single most important problem facing Colorado, that is, the one you are most concerned about?”


We provided respondents with 25 different areas of responsibility for public education in Colorado and asked them

how important they view each one.

Next I am going to read you a list of tasks or jobs that some people say are the responsibility of public

education in Colorado. After I read each one, please tell me how important each one should be. Keeping in mind that it is difficult for everything to be equally important, please tell me if it should be extremely important, very

important, just somewhat important, or not very important for public education in Colorado.


Respondents were asked to rate this same list on a different scale – how good a job the public education system is doing in

these areas.

Next I am going to read you a list of tasks or jobs that some people say are the responsibility of public

education in Colorado. After I read each one, please tell me if you think, in general, public education in Colorado

is doing an excellent, good, only fair or poor job carrying out that responsibility.


Job training and skills

Updated textbooks, instructional materials,

and supplies

Changes to improve schools

35% 45% 55% 65% 75% 85% 95%10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Extremely Important

Go

od

Important

Poor

Access to computers and modern technology

Affordable college tuition

Education spending is more evenly distributed

Maintaining a safe environment

Understanding the basic subjectsProviding equal

access

Providing teachers with the tools and

training

Getting rid of ineffective teachers

Attracting and retaining the best quality teachers.

Kids graduate from high school

Discipline in the classroom

Full day kindergarten

Cutting edge research institutions

Pre school opportunities

Art, music or theater classes

Education for 21st century jobs

Coordinated education system

Small class sizes

No additional fees

Competitive salary for teachers

Replacing deteriorating

schools


Focused Priorities: Good Teachers, Education Basics, Education Access and Student Achievement

Providing a rigorous learning environment so students graduate prepared to go to college

Providing teachers with the tools and training they need to help each child achieve at higher levels

Keeping college tuition affordable so every Coloradan who wants to can attend college

Making sure that education spending is more evenly distributed between higher income suburban districts and lower income urban and rural districts

Maintaining discipline in the classroom so students can learn without disruptions.

Making sure that kids graduate from high school

Making sure students understand the basic subjects like reading, writing and math

Attracting and retaining the best quality teachers

Getting rid of ineffective teachers

35%

35%

37%

34%

42%

49%

59%

41%

40%

80%

80%

72%

72%

84%

88%

97%

90%

85%

% Very Important Column1

Ex./Good

11%

30%

26%

34%

32%

17%

19%

30%

30%


We also tested 13 factual statements regarding public education to gauge which ones are more likely to shift voter opinion

about the need for increasing funding.

Next I am going to read you some statements that some people have said about public education in Colorado. After I read each statement, please tell me if it makes you more likely to support a tax increase for public education, less likely to support a tax increase for

public education, or if it makes no difference.


Voters Respond Best To Hearing Colorado Is Behind The National Average In Spending Per Pupil

Colorado has one of the highest dropout rates in the nation for high school students.

Recent efforts to reduce drop-outs have helped keep more kids in school each year for the past four years.

Colorado’s average class sizes are among the largest of any state, ranking 41st out of 50 states.

Colorado’s average teacher salary ranks dead last when it comes to paying teachers a competitive wage.

Colorado ranks 40th out of 50 states in the amount spent per pupil on Kindergarten through 12th grade education.

The amount Colorado spends per pupil on K-12 education is nearly 30% less than the national average and less than every

other state in region inc NE, WY, KS and NM.

The amount Colorado spends per pupil on K-12 education is nearly $2,000 less than the national average and less than

every other state in region inc NE, WY, KS and NM.

32%

23%

35%

36%

32%

40%

43%

51%

54%

56%

58%

58%

61%

62%

% More Likely Column1

% Ranked by Total More Likely

After I read each statement, please tell me if it makes you more likely to support a tax increase for public education, less likely to support a tax increase for public education, or if it makes no difference.


Leading in Education Reforms Is The Least Persuasive

People say that Colorado is a national leader in education reforms to improve student achievement.

Colorado ranks eighth in the nation for the percent of high school seniors who receive a high score on advanced placement exams.

Colorado ranks as one of the most cost effective states in the nation based on the amount it spends per student who receives a college degree.

The amount Colorado spends per pupil on Kindergarten through 12th grade education is nearly 7 thousand dollars less than what Wyoming spends.

If higher education budget cuts continue, some of Colorado’s top public universities like University of Colorado and Colorado State University will become private institutions and no longer receive state funding.

Only one out of four Colorado high school students will graduate from college.

14%

18%

16%

28%

25%

27%

34%

40%

41%

47%

48%

49%

% More Likely Column1

% Ranked by Total More Likely

After I read each statement, please tell me if it makes you more likely to support a tax increase for public education, less likely to support a tax increase for public education, or if it makes no difference.


Initial Informed

3% 2%

27%

21%

39%

47%

15%

20%

6% 6%

A B C D Fail

The Concerns About Colorado Schools Have Pushed Voters to Give Schools a Lower Grade

“Now I would like you to think about the Kindergarten through 12th grade public schools in Colorado. Many teachers use the letters A, B, C, D or Fail to grade their students. Suppose you have the opportunity to grade the K through 12th grade public schools in Colorado, what grade

would you give them? An A, B, C, D or Fail?”


Voters are divided over whether new funds should be used to restore cuts or for new reforms

“If more funding were available for K through 12th grade public schools in Colorado, which of the following statements comes closest to your opinion?”

It should be used to implement new

education reforms

It should be used to restore education

funding that was cut


However, providing specific examples increases the likelihood that voters opt for restoring cuts

“If more funding were available for K through 12th grade public schools in Colorado, which of the following statements comes closest to your opinion?”

It should be used to implement new education reforms such as

programs to improve student achievement and state of the art

technology in the classroom

It should be used to restore education funding that was cut over

the past few years, so we can reduce class sizes, rehire quality teachers and eliminate fees for

programs and materials


By Nearly 3-to-1 Voters Agree The Best Way to Grow Our Economy Is to Increase Investment In Schools

“I’d like to read which one you agree with more even if neither exactly matches what you think?”

Other/some people say that if the best way to improve our schools is through a tax increase, then that’s

the last thing we need in this economy

Some/other people say that the best way to grow our economy and

create jobs is to increase our investment in schools that prepare our kids for the high-tech jobs of

the future


This data underscores the importance of teachers and highlights that “employers” can also be compelling communicators.

“Now I’m going to read the names of several individuals or groups who might have an opinion on public education funding and taxes in Colorado. After I read each one, please tell me if that is a

person whose opinion you would respect or whose opinion you would be suspicious of?”

Teachers Colorado Employers John Hickenlooper Business Leaders Teacher Unions

76%

64%59%

50%41%

20%28% 30%

40%

55%

Respect Suspicious

+56 -14+36 +29 +10


• Voter Attitudes: Education is identified as an important issue and funding seen as a problem; good teachers are identified as a key for quality education; public school quality is a partisan issue

• Funding: Agree that too little is spent on K-12 education, a majority say they are willing to increase taxes for K-12 education – but not a lot, voters want to see money in the classroom and for teachers

• Priorities: Voters want students to learn the basics, have access to good teachers, and feel that schools do well with high-tech, safety issues

• Framing: Voters are divided on restoring cuts or reforming education, but after hearing specifics side with restoring; agree that growing the economy comes with an investment in education. Its difficult to move voters to agree that taxes should be raised

Email: [email protected]: (303) 433-4424

Fax: (303) 433-4253www.pos.org

Email: [email protected]: (303) 514-0268

www.keatingresearch.com/

Lori Weigel, Partner

Chris Keating, President

Documents

Key Findings Colorado Statewide Education Survey December 13, 2011 Lori Weigel Partner Chris Keating President