Key findings from a statewide survey of 500 registered voters in North Carolina conducted July 26-30, 2016. LORI WEIGEL JAY CAMPBELL 13252
METHODOLOGY ¡ Statewide survey of 500 registered voters in North Carolina conducted on both landlines and cell phones ¡ Interviewing completed July 26-30, 2016 ¡ Overall margin of error of + 4.38% ¡ Sample distributed proportionally throughout the state and is demographically representative of the electorate ¡ Bipartisan research team of Hart Research and Public Opinion Strategies PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES • HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES 2
Ensuring adequate funding for state needs like education is solidly more important than keeping taxes low to voters. 59% Making sure that there is sufficient funding for needs such as education 37% Holding the line on taxes and spending Which of the following do you think is a greater priority right now – holding the line on taxes and spending, or making sure that there is sufficient funding for needs such as education? PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES • HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES 3
Voters rate education–and early education specifically–as two of the top three most important priorities for the nation. Extremely Important Extremely/Very Important Improving the quality of public education 52% 90% 49% 88% Controlling the cost of health care Making sure that our children get a strong start in life 47% 86% through quality early childhood education 44% 85% Increasing the number of good paying jobs 40% 80% Decreasing the number of people living in poverty 36% 71% Reducing the tax burden on families 33% 66% Fixing the immigration system 21% 50% Providing low- or no-cost college Now I'm going to read you some goals that people might have for our country right now, and I'd like you to rate how important you personally consider each goal to be – is it extremely important, very important, somewhat important or not that important to you? PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES • HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES 4
Eight-in-ten North Carolinians say birth to age five is the most important time for developing a child’s capacity to learn. Ages 0-5 – 79% <1 1-2 3-5 6-10 11-14 15-17 52% Ages 6-17 – 20% 17% 2% 3% 15% 10% What do you think is the most important age for developing a child's capacity to learn? Is it… PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES • HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES 5
Two-thirds of respondents say half or fewer of early education programs are high-quality and affordable. Refused, 3% Unsure, All, 4% 18% All/Most Programs are 15%^ Very Few, Affordable/High-Quality Most 28% 10% Half or Fewer are 66%^ Affordable/High-Quality About Half, 15% Only Some, 22% ^ Denotes Rounding About how many of the early education programs in your area would you say are high - quality AND affordable for lower - and middle - income families? PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES • HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES 6
Voters throughout the state say there is a lack of affordable quality early education programs. Charlotte (27%) Raleigh (31%) W-S/Greensboro (17%) Other Media Markets (25%) 15% 12% 22% 13% All/Most Programs All/Most Programs All/Most Programs All/Most Programs Half or Fewer Half or Fewer Half or Fewer Half or Fewer 63% 69% 65% 66% Programs Programs Programs Programs About how many of the early education programs in your area would you say are high - quality AND affordable for lower - and middle - income families?
This is also true across all income levels. High-Quality/Affordable Early Education by Income All/Most Programs are Affordable/High-Quality Half/Some/Few 72% 68% 65% 65% 62% 20% 17% 15% 11% 10% <$30K $30-$50K $50-$75K $75-$100K $100K+ (20%) (21%) (17%) (14%) (20%) PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES • HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES 8
Nearly three-quarters of North Carolina voters say we should be doing more for young children’s education. 74% 65% Doing More Doing Enough Doing Less 30% 18% 4% 2% 2014 2016 And when it comes to ensuring that children here in North Carolina begin kindergarten with the knowledge and skills they need to do their best in school, do you think we should be doing more, doing less, or are doing enough? PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES • HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES 9
Significant increases in desire to take action on early childhood education were made across the board. Increase in Doing More (+9% Overall) 2014 2016 Net Increase Party +8% Republicans 51% 59% +18% Independents 58% 76% +3% Democrats 82% 85% Gender/Age +11% Men Ages 18-44 68% 79% +11% Men Ages 45+ 58% 69% +9% Women Ages 18-44 72% 81% +8% Women Ages 45+ 64% 72% Parents +7% Dads 64% 71% +7% Moms 69% 76% +15% Men Without Kids 61% 76% +7% Women Without Kids 68% 75% And when it comes to ensuring that children here in North Carolina begin kindergarten with the knowledge and skills they need to do their best in school, do you think we should be doing more, doing less, or are doing enough? PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES • HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES 10
A desire for action is grounded in the many perceived benefits of quality early education programs. Education Benefits Ranked by % Help A Lot Help A Lot Total Help 68% 83% Children developing curiosity and a love of learning Children having academic success in middle school and high 65% 78% school 65% 77% Children achieving their third grade reading goals 64% 78% Children having academic success in elementary school 60% 75% Having a larger pool of highly skilled workers in the long - term If more children are able to attend high - quality early education programs, how much would it help in each of the following areas? PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES • HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES 11
North Carolinians express strong support for a range of state improvements in access and quality in early education. Total Total Proposals Ranked by % Total Support Support Oppose Making early education and child care more affordable for working 90% 9% families to give children a strong start. Giving young children a clearer pathway to success through better 89% 9% integration of early health, parent education and early childhood education so that these services work together. Providing voluntary home visiting and parent education programs 80% 19% that help parents support their child's early learning, health and emotional development. Please tell me if you support or oppose each of the following… PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES • HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES 12
Moreover, this support is quite intense. Strongly Total Proposals Ranked by % Strongly Support Support Support Making early education and child care more affordable for working 69% 90% families to give children a strong start. Giving young children a clearer pathway to success through better 59% 89% integration of early health, parent education and early childhood education so that these services work together. Providing voluntary home visiting and parent education programs 46% 80% that help parents support their child's early learning, health and emotional development. Please tell me if you support or oppose each of the following… PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES • HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES 13
State improvements garner majority support across party lines. Proposals % Total Support by Party GOP IND DEM Making early education and child care more affordable for 78% 93% 97% working families to give children a strong start. Giving young children a clearer pathway to success through better integration of early health, parent education 78% 90% 96% and early childhood education so that these services work together. Providing voluntary home visiting and parent education 65% 85% 88% programs that help parents support their child's early learning, health and emotional development. Please tell me if you support or oppose each of the following… PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES • HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES 14
The vast majority of respondents also support the expansion of NC Pre-K and Smart Start - by an even greater degree than two years ago. 84% As you may know, two of the programs that serve young children in 74% North Carolina are NC Pre - K, a pre - kindergarten education program, 63% and Smart Start, a local program that 58% Strongly Strongly works with families, teachers, faith Support Support communities, doctors and educators to ensure healthy development and early learning for children birth to five. 24% Currently, less than a quarter of North Carolina’s four-year-olds receive NC 14% Pre - K, and Smart Start funding is inadequate to reach all the children Support Oppose Support Oppose that need it. 2014 2016 Would you support or oppose expanding access to NC Pre - K and Smart Start so that more children in the state can participate in them? PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES • HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES 15
Support for increasing funding for these state programs has shot up among GOP and independent voters dramatically. NC Pre-K/Smart Start By Party Total Support Total Oppose 2014 2016 92% 92% 87% 73% 70% 50% 46% 26% 26% 12% 7% 5% Republicans Independents Democrats Republicans Independents Democrats (27%) (33%) (39%) (31%) (28%) (40%) PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES • HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES 16
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