By : John McLaughlin May 5 th , 2014 On the web mclaughlinonline

1. National Survey Common Core State Standards Likely General Election Voters Oversamples of GOP Primary Voters and Swing Voters By:John McLaughlin May 5th, 2014 On the webwww.mclaughlinonline.com

2. Presentation Outline • Methodology • Major Findings • Common Core Ratings and Analysis • Generic Ballot for State Legislature • Voter Profile 2 National - CSS - Common Core May 5, 2014

3. Methodology This national survey of 1000 likely general election voters was conducted from April 7-13 , 2014. The subsequent oversample conducted to reach 500 GOP primary voters was conducted from April 14–17. The subsequent oversample conducted to reach 500 swing voters for state legislature was conducted from April 14-17. All interviews were conducted online; survey invitations were distributed randomly within predetermined election units. These units were structured to correlate with actual voter turnout in a nationwide general election. This poll of 1000 likely general election voters has an accuracy of +/- 3.0% at a 95% confidence interval. The oversamples of 500 GOP primary voters and 500 swing voters each have an accuracy of +/-4.4% at a 95% confidence interval. 3 National - CSS - Common Core May 5, 2014

4. Major Findings • Common Core is still relatively unknown, undefined and somewhat incorrectly defined. • More than 4 in 5 of all voters, 84%, support assigning schools a letter grade regarding how well they educate students. • A large percentage of voters don’t even know what Common Core State Standards are. • 42% of all voters say they have not seen, read or heard anything about Common Core Standards. This includes 32% among all voters with children under 18, 34% among Republican primary voters and 44% among the November swing voters. • Initially voters have a mixed reaction to Common Core State Standards. • Among all voters 35% approve, 33% disapprove and 32% don't know. • Among Republican primary voters 33% approve, 41% disapprove and 26% don't know. • Among November's swing voters 32% approve, 30% disapprove and 37% don't know. • This is a decidedly different finding than the anecdotal evidence that Common Core is red-hot at the grassroots level and a virtual litmus test for candidates these days. 4 National - CSS - Common Core May 5, 2014

5. Major Findings • Then in the very next question when Common Core is described to people in simple, neutral language, support for the concept soars to a two-thirds majority. When voters were asked if they approve or disapprove of "Common Core State Standards are simply a set of standards in Math and English which state what a child should know in both subjects by the end of each grade of school they complete. Common Core set expectations for what students should be able to achieve and compare schools from state to state." All voters approve 65%-29%. Republican primary voters approve 59%-35%. Swing voters approve 66%-25%. • The majority, 57%, prefers a candidate who says that “Common Core State Standards are supported by 75% of the teachers and will help students learn more and be better prepared when they graduate high school” vs. the candidate who says that “they were developed in secret by the Obama administration and are being imposed on kids without input from parents and local school boards,” 26%. Among Republican primary voters it's 48%-36% and among swing voters, 58%-25%. 5 National - CSS - Common Core May 5, 2014

6. Major Findings • CONCLUSION: • All the dangers that come from being associated with the national Republican brand – being exclusive, Anglo-only, anti-woman, anti-Hispanic – are in play here and Republicans would be wise to think of this issue in a broader context. • The anti-Common Core positions may be inviting in the short-term, but looking to November supporting state standards that elevate school achievement have far more upside. 6 National - CSS - Common Core May 5, 2014

7. Have you seen, read or heard anything about Common Core State Standards as they apply to education? National - CSS - Common Core May 5, 2014 7

9. Do you approve or disapprove of the Common Core State Standards? National - CSS - Common Core May 5, 2014 9

11. Common Core State Standards are simply a set of standards in Math and English which state what a child should know in both subjects by the end of each grade of school they complete. Common Core set expectations for what students should be able to achieve and compare schools from state to state. Knowing this, do you approve or disapprove of the Common Core State Standards? National - CSS - Common Core May 5, 2014 11

13. Given the following statements about each candidate’s views, please tell me which candidate you are more likely to vote for to represent you in the state legislature?  Candidate A who says that Common Core State Standards are supported by 75% of teachers and will help students learn more and be better prepared when they graduate high school.Candidate B who says that Common Core State Standards were developed in secret by the Obama administration and are being imposed on kids without input from parents and local school boards. National - CSS - Common Core May 5, 2014 13

15. Generic Ballot: State Legislature National - CSS - Common Core May 5, 2014 15

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17. Voter Profile

18. Voter Profile National - CSS - Common Core May 5, 2014 18