101102 fresno local briefing power point

CA Latino Voter Poll: Early Learning is a Winning Issue

HARTRESEARCHA S S O T E SC I A

THETARRANCEGROUP

Key findings from statewide surveyConducted for

CA Latino Voters and Preschool – July 2010 – Hart Research/Tarrance Group for 2

Latinos In California

More than one third of California’s population is Latino.

Latinos will be California's largest ethnic group by 2020.

There are 5.4 million eligible Latino voters in California, 24% of all eligible voters in the state.

Starting in 2006, a majority of new registered voters in California have been Latinos.


Latino Voters In California

Latino voters support candidates who speak to the issues most important to them: In this November’s election, 28% of Latinos

voted for Meg Whitman. In the 2003 Gubernatorial recall election, 42%

of Latino voters supported Governor Schwarzenegger over Cruz Bustamante.


Latino Voters in November 2nd Election

Latinos made up 22% of all voters in November’s election.

Latinos made the difference in some of California's most important races. Governor-Elect Jerry Brown – advantage among

Latino voters accounted for just over 7 percent advantage in the overall vote. He won by 11 percent.

Senator Barbara Boxer – Latinos accounted for just over 8 percent of advantage. She won by 9 percent.


Latino Children In California

Latino children account for more than half of all kids under age 5 in CA.

By 2025, Latinos will make up almost half of new labor force in CA.

Our state’s future depends on ensuring young Latino children have opportunity to access early education.

Builds foundation to excel in K-12.

Places on pathway to success in college, careers.


Survey Methodology

Statewide telephone survey conducted July 19 – 25, 2010, among 895 registered Latino voters in California.

Bilingual interviewers were used for all interviews; 252 respondents took the survey in Spanish.

Margin of error = ±3.4 percentage points.


43%

51%

54%

56%

66%

75%

75%

% saying each candidate description for governor/legislator appeals a great deal

Believes education is the pathway

to opportunityWill ensure children have opportunity to

get a great educationWill do what’s best

for CA families

Knows/looks out for CA Latino community

Will hold down taxes for average CA

Wants to invest in infrastructure for

CA futureFiscal conservative,

will make needed cuts to balance budget

Education Candidate Is Most Appealing


7% 22% 30% 39%

9% 21% 33% 35%

9% 23% 33% 33%

10% 22% 29% 36%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Providing Latino children with same educational opportunities as others

Giving children the opportunity to get a good education

Providing children an education that will allow

them to compete/succeed in today’s economy

Ensuring students are grounded in the basics of

math, reading, writing

State Receives Poor Marks On Education

Excellent job Poor job Not sureGood job Fair job

Evaluation of California’s Performance in Selected Areas


Description of Preschool Programs: “Organized learning programs outside the home for young children that help children develop social skills and introduce them to early reading and math”

Importance of Attending Preschool before Kindergarten

Latinos Believe Preschool Is Important, Gives Children An Advantage

Children’s Advantage in School after Attending Preschool

49%

34%

17%Extremely important

Very important

Less important/ not sure

83%HIGHLY

IMPORTANT 14%

72%

14% Large advantage

86% CHILDREN HAVE

ADVANTAGESmall

advantage

No advantage/ not sure


Ready for Kindergarten: Greatest Gains for Kids Who Need It Most


22%

23%

50%

5%

California’s Efforts to Ensure Quality Preschool Available

and Affordable to All

California Not Doing Enough To Ensure Preschool Access

How many families in your community have access to affordable quality pre-school programs?

23%

5%7%

Doing too much

65%CA NOT DOING

ENOUGH

72% HALF/FEWER HAVE ACCESS

Not sure

Doing right

amount

Not sure All/

most

About half

Less than half/ very few


What Groups of Children Are Least Likely To Be In High-quality Preschool?

Percent of children in high-quality preschool that prepares them for success in school:

14% of Latino children 13% of low-income children 12% of children whose mothers have high school

diploma or less 5% of African American children


21%

25%

26%

28%

40%

52%

58%

% saying each is a major reason why some children might not attend preschool

Not enough affordable programs

Three-hour programs not long enough for

parents to workParents not aware of

available programs

No programs in my community

Teachers/staff don’t speak Spanish

Programs available here are poor quality

or unsafeBetter for kids to stay

home with relatives until kindergarten

Reasons Children Don’t Attend Preschool


Strong Support For Greater Preschool Investment, Even In Current Budget/ Economic Environment

13%9%

Support for CA Ensuring Low-Income Families Have Access to Voluntary, Quality Preschool

Stronglyfavor71%

84%

“Even though CA economy and budget are in bad shape, CA needs to continue to sup-port access to high-quality preschool to prepare children for success in kindergar-ten and beyond.”

91%

Stronglyagree75%

Favor Oppose Agree Disagree

Total Favor

DemocratsIndependentsRepublicans

87%87%68%

Total Agree


94%93%76%


Messages That Resonate With Latino Voters

Before age 5, children’s brains are like sponges, and they are eager to learn. We should take advantage of this important opportunity to stimulate and feed their minds. (89%)

Preschool helps kids develop social skills, cooperation, problem solving and a love of learning. (86%)

Attending preschool leads to better student performance, including better reading and math scores in kindergarten and beyond. (82%)

% saying the following are convincing arguments for why CA should make quality preschool more accessible and affordable


Latino Voters Support Candidates Who Support Preschool & Early Learning

17% 16%

Support for Candidate for Governor/Legislator who wants to:

Muchmorelikely50% 13%

21%

More likelyto support

INCREASE Funding For Preschool/Early Learning

DECREASE Funding for Preschool/Early Learning to Balance Budget

Makes nodifference

Less likelyto support

69%

Muchless

likely44%

More likelyto support

Makes nodifference

Less likelyto support

61%

Total More Likely


71%67%62%

Total Less Likely


65%59%52%


45%

48%

48%

53%

56%Will lead California

to a better future

Focused on the right priorities

Looking out for me and my family

Shares my values

Understands theLatino community

Profile Of A Pro-Preschool, Early Learning CandidateHow well does this describe a candidate who wants to increase funding to make quality preschool, early learning more affordable/accessible?

Describes pro-preschool candidate very well Describes fairly well

78%

74%

69%

69%

65%


Summary Of Key Findings

Education is a top priority for Latino voters as a pathway to opportunity, but Latino voters give California poor marks when it comes to providing those educational opportunities.

Latino voters see preschool as a critical piece of the state’s educational mission and believe preschool provides important benefits to children.

Latinos face multiple barriers to preschool, so even in the context of the state's fiscal challenges and competing priorities, Latino voters support expanding access to quality preschool.

Latino voters support candidates who support preschool and early learning funding, and would oppose candidates who would decrease such funding.


Looking Ahead: Supporting Our Future through Early Learning

Ensuring a successful future for California and the Central Valley means ensuring Latino children are ready to excel in school, college and careers.

California early learning policy priorities: Transitional Kindergarten Development of quality rating scale to improve school readiness and

raise quality of existing programs Protecting current budget investments

Fresno local efforts 2007 Economic Impact Report 2008 Master Plan for Voluntary Preschool 2010 Professional Learning Communities for Transition Kindergarten


Ways to Get Involved and Show Your Support

Share poll results and other materials with colleagues and friends. All materials are available at www.preschoolcalifornia.org/latinopoll

Sign up for Preschool California’s email updates to learn about latest policy developments at www.preschoolcalifornia.org.

Talk with community members and leaders about the importance of early learning in Fresno County.

Join us at Preschool California’s 2011 Early Learning Advocacy Day in Sacramento.

http://www.preschoolcalifornia.org/latinopoll

http://www.preschoolcalifornia.org/

Thank you!

Ernesto Saldaña, Statewide Field [email protected]

Rebecca Chamow, Local Communications [email protected]

HARTRESEARCHA S S O T E SC I A

THETARRANCEGROUP

More information at

www.preschoolcalifornia.org/latinopoll

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]