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).

Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for 11

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