strengthening boston’s public schools: voters school the next mayor
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HART. RESEARCH. ASSOCIATES. Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School The Next Mayor. Survey among Boston voters and public school parents conducted for. Survey Methodology. Survey among 626 registered voters* in Boston, conducted August 9 – 13 , 2013 - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for 1
Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools:
Voters School TheNext Mayor
Survey among Boston voters and public school parents conducted for
Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for 2
Survey Methodology
• Survey among 626 registered voters* in Boston, conducted August 9 – 13, 2013
• Interviews conducted by telephone (landline and cell)
• Oversample interviews conducted with parents of children in Boston Public Schools (charter and/or regular public schools), yielding a total sample of 200 parents
• MOE for all voters is ±4.2 percentage and for parents is ±7.1 percentage points.
* Voters must have voted in 2011 and/or 2012 to qualify.
Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for 3
10%
10%
14%
17%
32%
34%
55%
Education Should Be Top Priority For Next Mayor
Which one or two of these issues do you personally feel should be the most important priorities for the next mayor?
Education/schools
Crime
Jobs/unemployment
Housing
Health care
The budget
Taxes
69% of voters (87% of parents) say candidates’ record & positions on education will be a very important factor in their vote for mayor.
Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for 4
7%
12%
17%
59%
Public Schools Are Most Important Institution For Boston’s FutureWhich one of the following institutions do you feel is most important in providing a good future for your community?
Public schools
Law enforcement
Business corporations
Religious institutions
Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for 5
15%
15%
21%
27%
30%
34%
Diagnosis: Lack of Choice, Teacher Quality Not Main Problems in Boston Schools
Thinking about the problems facing Boston public schools today, which one or two of the following are the biggest problems and most important to address?
Lack of funding
Too much standard-ized testing and
teaching to the test
Class sizes too large
Expectations for students set too low
Not enough school choice for parents
Poor teacher quality
All votersPublic school parents
37%
26%
37%
15%
16%
15%
Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for 6
Pro-Charter Candidate Loses To Candidate Focused On Regular Public Schools
With which of these candidates do you agree more?
We should focus more on improving the regular public schools that serve the large majority of Boston's students and less on charters that only serve a few.
We should lift the cap and open more charter schools, so that parents have more choice of public schools they can send their children to
Agree much more 45%
Much more19%
67%
29%
Public school parents: 62% agree (47% strongly)
Public school parents: 31% agree (23% strongly)
Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for 7
With which of these candidates do you agree more?
Focus on improving regular public schools
66%67%75%
69%67%
74%
73%59%
69%
62%67%59%
Open more charter schools
32%29%23%
26%30%
19%
24%36%
28%
31%27%34%
Agree much more 45%
Much more19%
WhitesAfrican AmericansHispanics
Non-college graduatesCollege graduates
Union households
DemocratsNon-Democrats
Education voters
All public school parents Low-income parents High-income parents
Pro-Charter Candidate Loses To Candidate Focused On Regular Public Schools
Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for 8
51%
57%
66%
69%
68%
74%
75%
77%
Voters’ Education Agenda For Next Mayor
Extra resources to struggling schools
More after-school enrichment programs
Less spending on bureaucracy, more
on classrooms
Hold charter schools accountable
More schools as n’hood hubs: open later, ed.
programs, health svcs
Reduce class size, esp. in early gradesMajor investment in
school construction/ renovation/maintenance
with state funding
Tougher discipline standards/enforcement
93%
81%
Strongly favor proposal Somewhat favor proposal
79%
93%
90%
90%
89%
87%
Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for 9
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
27%
21%
26%
20%
18%
25%
13%
17%
48%
49%
58%
58%
Two Ideas Not On Voters’ Agenda: Cut Employee Benefits, Expand Charters
Favor proposal Somewhat oppose proposal Strongly oppose proposal Not sure
Reduce spending on regular public schools, and use the funds to open more charter schools
All voters
Public school parents
All voters
Public school parents
Reduce pension and health benefits for teachers and other school employees
= 74% oppose
= 66% oppose
= 76% oppose
= 71% oppose
Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for 10
Support For Extended School Day – IF Employees Compensated
Support For Proposal To Increase Length Of School Day In Boston Public Schools By One Hour
0.76
20%
Favor Oppose
Stronglyfavor42%
Strong 10%
71%
IF the length of the school day increased by one hour, should Boston teacher/ school employee salaries be increased to compensate the additional time worked?
Salaries should be increased
23%
Salaries should not be
increased
Among voters who favor extended day, 76% say employees should be compensated (54% of all voters).
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Voters Want To Support – Not Replace – Struggling Teachers
With which of these candidates do you agree more?
We should improve teaching by raising hiring standards and giving struggling teachers more support and training
Agree much more 41%
Much more18%
65%
31%
Public school parents: 67% agree (50% strongly)
Public school parents: 30% agree (20% strongly)
We should improve teaching by removing poorly performing teachers from the classroom and hiring new teachers to replace them
Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for 12
Voters Want A Mayor Who Will Work With Teachers And Their Union
With which of these candidates do you agree more?
I will work with the teachers union because teachers have important ideas for improving schools
Agree much more 45%
Much more16%
73%
23%
Public school parents: 72% agree (43% strongly)
Public school parents: 23% agree (15% strongly)
I will stand up to the teachers union because they are an obstacle to improving schools
Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for 13
Support Of Teachers And Their Union Would Be Major Lift For Candidate
If a candidate for mayor had the support of Boston teachers and the teachers union, would that give you more or less confidence that this candidate would work to improve the Boston public schools?
Public school parents
More confidence the candidate would work to improve schools
Less confidence the candidate would work to improve schools
65%70%
16% 11%
All voters