GOALS

2. GOALS • 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-12schools 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

3. POLL METHODOLOGY • 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

4. Key Points

5. Key Points • 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.

6. Key Points • 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.

7. Core Views of K-12 Public Education

8. What would you say are the most important issues or challenges facing Colorado? Multiple response question Nearly half of voters mention education as one of the most important issues facing Colorado % Ranked by Top Mention

9. 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 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 35% 8% 6% 3% 3% 3%

10. The problem is funding and resources What is the biggest problem or challenge facing K-12 public schools in Colorado? “Budget.” “Budget cuts.” “Funding.” “Money.” “Resources.” “Underfunded.” “Qualified teachers.” “Good teachers.” “Overcrowding of schools.” “Overpopulation.” “Overcrowding in the classroom and cutting programs.”

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

12. “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?” 3-in-10 voters grade public schools as an A or a B. A drop from 4-in-10 in 2005

13. More Than Anything School Quality is a Partisan Issue

14. A good school is defined by • quality teachers When you think of a good public school, what is the most important quality or characteristic that comes to mind? “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.”

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

16. Funding Education in Colorado

17. 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 “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?” -38 -16

18. A majority say that funding should be increased for K-12 public schools “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?” 7% Little / don’t know 22% Some 27% A Lot

19. The willingness to pay more in taxes for K-12 education and higher education dramatically differs “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?” 46% Strongly 33% Strongly 30% Strongly 43% Strongly

20. 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? +44 +22 -34

21. Lingering High Unemployment Creates Uncertainty Colorado Unemployment rate 2001 - 2011 Oct. 2011: 7.6% Lowest level in 2 years Sept. 2005: 5.1%

22. Education is much more likely to be voiced as the top issue facing the state today than in the past *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?”

23. Education Priorities

24. Public Education Importance 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.

25. Public Education Job Performance 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.

26. Cutting edge research institutions Maintaining a safe environment Access to computers and modern technology Pre school opportunities Education for 21st century jobs Understanding the basic subjects Providing equal access Art, music or theater classes Full day kindergarten Kids graduate from high school Replacing deteriorating schools Updated textbooks, instructional materials, and supplies Discipline in the classroom Attracting and retaining the best quality teachers. No additional fees Providing teachers with the tools and training Job training and skills Coordinated education system Changes to improve schools Competitive salary for teachers Small class sizes Affordable college tuition Getting rid of ineffective teachers Education spending is more evenly distributed

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

28. Public Education Facts 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.

29. Voters Respond Best To Hearing Colorado Is Behind The National Average In Spending Per Pupil 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. % Ranked by Total More Likely

30. Leading in Education Reforms Is The Least Persuasive 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. % Ranked by Total More Likely

31. “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?” The Concerns About Colorado Schools Have Pushed Voters to Give Schools a Lower Grade

32. Framing The Debate

33. 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?” 45% It should be used to restore education funding that was cut 42% It should be used to implement new education reforms

34. 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 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 56% 31% 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

35. 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?” 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 65% 23% 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

36. Messengers 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?” +56 +36 +29 +10 -14

37. Conclusions • 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