2006 Public Opinion Survey on Education in Indiana

Jonathan A. PluckerTerry E. SpradlinJason S. ZapfRosanne W. Chien

Presented to the Indiana State Board of Education January 3, 2007

2

Center for Evaluation andEducation Policy (CEEP)

• CEEP promotes and supports rigorous program evaluation and policy research primarily, but not exclusively, for education, human service and non-profit organizations.

• In the area of K-12 education policy, CEEP’s mission is to help inform, influence and shape sound policy through effective, nonpartisan research and analysis.

3

Need for a Survey

• No comprehensive, nonpartisan survey of public opinion on Indiana education issues in recent memory

• Policymakers in other states find such surveys to be very helpful

• Measure the impact of the changes in the education policy environment on the attitudes and perceptions of respondents– E.g., Gov. Daniels completing his second year in office, improving state

finances, full implementation of several new laws and programs intended to improve public education

• Year 4 survey conducted to identify changes in the attitudes and perceptions of Hoosiers since 2003 and gauge opinions on K-12 education policy issues likely to be addressed during the 2007 session of the Indiana General Assembly

4

Telephone Survey Sample

• 612 residents of Indiana, all 18+ years old• Conducted in November 2006 • Random Digit Dialing (RDD)

– Includes both listed and unlisted numbers• Minimum and maximum quotas for county, age, gender, and

race/ethnicity to ensure a representative sample of these variables– Gender: 45.9% male, 54.1% female– Race: 80.3% white, 8.3% African American, 6.1% Hispanic

• State and regional results are weighted proportionately to the Indiana population for gender and race

• Phone survey and data collection conducted by Stone Research Services

5

Survey Statistics

• Ratio of initial refusals to households successfully screened (1929/793) was 2.4:1, which is average for RDD samples.

• Overall sampling error of +/- 4%

6

Survey Development

• Questions developed from a review of:– Surveys in other states (AL, CA, DE, IL) and the ISTA

poll

– 38th Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools

– Issues being discussed by Indiana policymakers

– Anticipated “hot topics” in Indiana (e.g., full-day kindergarten, school funding, ISTEP+ testing, vouchers, and teacher compensation)

7

Item Revision

• 2003-2006 Survey questions have been reviewed by:√ Project staff√ Indiana policymakers and educational leaders

representing a breadth of perspectives and ideologies

√ Stone Research Services

Summary of Year 4 Results

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Public School Quality (Q1)• 56% of Hoosiers said that public schools

in Indiana provide an excellent or good education v. 31% fair and 10% poor

• Only 39% of non-white respondents say that public schools provide an excellent or good education v. 60% of white respondents

• 41% of non-white respondents said that schools provide a fair education and 16% of non-white respondents said poor

• No significant difference between respondents with school-aged children and those without school-aged children

• 63% of Southern IN residents rate schools excellent or good; highest among the three regions of the state

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%

Excellent Good Fair Poor

2003

2004

2005

2006

10

Public School QualityOver Past 5 Years (Q2)

• 27% said that public schools have gotten better in the past 5 years, 44% the same, and 19% worse

• 26% (better) v. 23% (worse) with school-aged children

• 27% v. 19% without school-aged children

• 30% of Southern Indiana residents say schools have gotten better v. 29% of Central IN, and 23% of Northern IN residents

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Better Same Worse

2003

2004

2005

2006

11

Community School Quality (Q3)

• 65% of Hoosiers said that schools in their community provide and excellent or good education v. 34% fair or poor

• 66% (excellent/good) v. 34% (worse) with school-aged children

• 64% v. 34% without school-aged children

• 69% of white residents say schools in their community provide an excellent or good education v. 48% of minority residents

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%

Excellent Good Fair Poor

2003

2004

2005

2006

12

Community School Quality Over Past 5 Years (Q4)

• 32% of Hoosiers said that schools in their community have gotten better, 46% the same, and 15% who believe they have gotten worse

• 37% (better) v. 14% (worse) with school-aged children

• 29% v. 18% without school-aged children

• 35% of Central IN residents say their community schools have gotten better v. 31% of Southern IN, and 29% of Northern IN residents

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%

Better Same Worse

2003

2004

2005

2006

2003

13

Impact of Spending on Quality of Education (Q5)

• 80% indicated that the amount of money spent on public education affects the quality of education a lot or somewhat, v. 12% who indicate a little and 5% who said not at all

• 80% (a lot/somewhat) v. 13% (not at all) with school-aged children

• 79% v. 12% without school-aged children

• 81% of white respondents v. 76% of minority residents 0%

5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%

A Lot Somewhat A Little Not at All

2003

2004

2005

2006

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Is Public School FundingSufficient? (Q6A)

• 61% of residents said the level of funding for public schools is not enough, 26% said it is enough, and 8% said the level of funding is more than enough

• Men, individuals 65 and older, residents in Southern Indiana, and whites were the most likely to say funding levels are enough or more than enough, although all such responses were less than 50%

• Women, residents in Central Indiana, and minority citizens were the most likely to say funding levels are insufficient.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Morethan

Enough

Enough NotEnough

2003

2004

2005

2006

15

Is Current Per Pupil Spending Sufficient? (Q6B)

• When informed that the average per pupil expenditure was $10,000/student, 45% of residents said this amount was not enough, 35% enough, and 12% more than enough

• Females, college graduates, citizens of Central Indiana, and non-white residents most frequently responded that this amount was not enough

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%

Morethan

Enough

Enough NotEnough

2006

16

Expenditures on Facilities & Equipment (Q7)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Far

too

muc

h

Mor

e th

ansu

ffic

ient

Suff

icie

nt

Les

s th

ansu

ffic

ient

Far

too

litt

le

Don

't K

now

• Majority of Hoosiers (43%) expressed view spending is sufficient on facilities and equipment

• 22% said expenditures are far too much or more than sufficient

• 23% said expenditures are less than sufficient or far too little

2004

2005

2006

17

State Funding for Voluntary Pre-School for At-Risk Children (Q8)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Support Oppose Don't Know

• Vast majority of Hoosiers (82%) expressed support state funding for pre-school programs for at-risk children

• 85% with school aged children v. 80% without

• 82% of white residents v. 81% of minority residents indicate support

2005

2006

18

Mandatory Kindergarten (Q9)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Support Oppose Don't Know

• Vast majority of Hoosiers (75%) support mandatory kindergarten for all students

• 78% with school-aged children v. 74% without

• 83% of Southern IN residents, 74% of Central and Northern IN residents

2005

2006

19

State-Funded Full-Day Kindergarten (Q10)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Support Oppose Don't Know

• Vast majority of Hoosiers (75%) support state-funded full-kindergarten

• 78% with school-aged children v. 71% without

• 82% of minority residents indicate support v. 72% of white residents

• 80% of Central IN residents, 75% of Southern IN, and 65% of Northern IN residents

2006

20

Require All School Districts to Offer Full-Day Kindergarten (Q11)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Support Oppose Don't Know

• Vast majority of Hoosiers (76%) support mandating school corporations to provide full-kindergarten

• 80% with school-aged children v. 74% without

• 86% of minority residents indicate support v. 74% of white residents

• 80% of Central IN residents, 74% of Southern IN, and 71% of Northern IN residents indicate support

2006

21

Require All Students to Attend Full-Day Kindergarten (Q12)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Support Oppose Don't Know

• 58% of Hoosiers support mandatory full-kindergarten

• 64% with school-aged children v. 55% without

• 75% of minority residents indicate support v. 54% of white residents

• 62% of Central IN residents, 60% of Southern IN, and 52% of Northern IN residents indicate support

2006

22

Increase Taxes to Support Full-Day Kindergarten (Q13)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Support Oppose Don't Know

• 61% of Hoosiers support increasing taxes to fund full-day kindergarten

• 60% with school-aged children v. 62% without

• 65% of minority residents indicated support v. 61% of white residents

• 73% with a bachelor’s degree or higher indicate support, 60% with some college, and 51% with HS or less

2006

2003

2004

2005

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Hoosiers Somewhat or Very Familiar With … (Q14, 21A)

77%74% 74%71%

39% 34% 35% 40%41% 38% 36%

0%

10%

20%30%

40%

50%

60%70%

80%

90%

100%

ISTEP+ Vouchers Charter Schools

2003

2004

2005

2006

24

ISTEP+ and SchoolPerformance (Q15)

• 71% of Indiana residents believe ISTEP+ has improved schools to some extent v. 25% not at all

• No difference between residents with school-aged children and those without (both 71%)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

To some extent Not at all20

03

2004

2005

2006

25

ISTEP+ Hold Schools Accountable for Student Achievement (Q16)

• 72% of Hoosiers strongly or somewhat strongly agreed that ISTEP+ holds schools accountable for student achievement

• 76% of respondents with school-aged children strongly agreed or agreed v. 69% without

• 76% of minority respondents also strongly agreed or agreed v. 71% of white residents

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Strongly/SomewhatAgree

Somewhat/StronglyDisagree

2003

2004

2005

2006

26

ISTEP+ Gives Helpful Information About School Performance (Q17)

• 67% of Hoosiers indicated that ISTEP+ provides helpful information to parents about school performance, down slightly from 73% in 2003

• 73% of respondents with school-aged children strongly agreed or agreed v. 63% without

• 72% of minority respondents also strongly agreed or agreed v. 65% of white residents

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Strongly/SomewhatAgree

Somewhat/StronglyDisagree

2003

2004

2005

2006

27

ISTEP+ Gives Helpful Information About Student Performance (Q18)

• 73% of Hoosiers indicated that ISTEP+ provides parents helpful information about student performance

• 75% of respondents with school-aged children strongly agreed or agreed v. 71% without

• 75% of minority respondents also strongly agreed or agreed v. 72% of white residents

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Strongly/SomewhatAgree

Somewhat/StronglyDisagree

2006

28

ISTEP+ Given in Fall or Spring (Q19)

• 75% of Hoosiers indicated that the ISTEP+ should be given toward the end of the school year, up from 70% in 2005

• 12% of citizens preferred the start of the year and 11% felt the timing makes no difference

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Fall Spring No Difference

2006

2005

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Options for Schools onAcademic Probation (Q20)

• 61% of Indiana residents stated a preference for additional assistance to help improve student achievement

• 18% would support state financial support to parents to offset part or all of the tuition for a private school

• 15% preferred giving parents public school transfer authority

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

AdditionalAssistance

Transfer ReceiveFinancialSupport

2006

2005

2006

Nat

ion

ally

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Creation of More Charter Schools (Q21B)

• 47% of Hoosiers support the creation of more charter schools, down from 56% in 2004 and 54% in 2003

• Those in opposition to charters has increased from 20% in 2003 to 34% in 2006

• 50% of those with children in school favor more charter schools v. 46% of those without

• 67% of minority residents favor more charter schools v. 43% of whites

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Support Oppose Don't Know

2006

2005

2004

2003

31

Charter School With Majority of Instruction Provided Online (Q21C)

• 76% of Indiana residents oppose a charter school with the majority of instruction provided over the Internet

• 84% of those with a college degree or more oppose v. 65% of those with HS or less

• 85% of those who earn $50K or more v. 64% of those who earn less than $50K per year

• No significant differences by race, gender, or state region of residence 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Support Oppose Don't Know

2006

32

Teacher Quality (Q22)

• 71% rated the quality of public school teachers as excellent or good v. 23% who rated teacher quality as fair and 4% poor

• 75% (excellent/good) v. 19% (fair) and 4% (poor) with school-aged children

• 68% v. 29% without school-aged children

• 74% of white residents (excellent/good) v. 58% of minority residents

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Excellent Good Fair Poor

2003

2004

2005

2006

33

Teacher Compensation (Q23)

• 72% favor paying highly qualified teachers higher salaries to teach in schools identified as needing improvement or that have a high percentage of students living in poverty

• 70% of males favor v. 74% of females

• 77% of those with a college degree or more favor such a compensation system v. 67% of those with HS or less

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Yes No20

0320

04

2006

2005

34

Increases in Teacher Compensation (Q24)

• 71% favor basing increases in teacher salaries on a combination of student performance, years of service, or training

• 73% of whites favor v. 62% of minority residents

• 66% of males v. 75% of females

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

StudentPerformance

Experience Combination

2006

2005

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Hoosiers That Know a Great Deal or Some About … (Q25, 28)

46%47% 49% 48%

45%

16% 15% 13% 15%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

NCLB PL221

2003

In

dian

a

2004

In

dian

a

2005

In

dian

a

2006

Nat

iona

lly

2006

In

dian

a

36

Impact of NCLB on Schools (Q26)

• 40% of Hoosiers in 2006 indicated NCLB is helping the performance of schools compared to 26% nationally

• 43% of those with school-aged children v. 37% without

• 50% of minority v. 38% of whites

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Helping No Difference Hurting

2006

2005

2004

2003

2006

Nat

ion

ally

37

Judging School Performance (Q27)

• 73% of Hoosiers favor using a combination of fixed standards and improvement in number of students passing the ISTEP+ to judge school performance

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Fixed Standard StudentsPassing

Combination

2006

2005

38

Impact of PL221 on Schools (Q29)

• Of those expressing familiarity with PL 221, 48% indicate it is helping the performance of schools

• 44% of those with school-aged children v. 50% without

• 58% of minority v. 46% of whites

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%

Helping Hurting No Difference20

06

39

Importance ofAchievement Gap (Q30)

• 94% of respondents indicated closing the achievement gap is very or somewhat important

• Non-white respondents indicated greater agreement that issue very important:– Non-white: 83%– White: 68%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Very/Somewhat Not very/Not at all20

04 I

ndi

ana

2005

In

dian

a

2006

Nat

iona

lly

2006

In

dian

a

40

Cause of Achievement Gap (Q31)

• 76% of Hoosiers believe that the achievement gap is due to factors other than schooling, such as family income or parental educational attainment

• Non-white and white respondents differ regarding the attribution to factors other than schooling:– White: 79%– Non-white: 64%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Schooling Other factors

2004

In

dian

a20

05 I

ndi

ana

2006

Nat

iona

lly

2006

In

dian

a

41

Closing the Achievement Gap (Q32)

• 54% of Indiana residents believe it is the public schools’ responsibility to close the achievement gap; 39% believe it is not

• 52% of non-white residents v. 55% of white residents

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Yes No20

04 I

ndi

ana

2005

In

dian

a

2006

Nat

iona

lly

2006

In

dian

a

42

Methods for Closing the Achievement Gap (Q33)

13%18%

29% 30%

10%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Preschool Programs Full-Day Kindergarten Reading Programs Public School Choice Financial Support(Private Vouchers)

43

General Conclusions

• Indiana adults generally have a positive attitude about public schools and teachers, especially in their own community.

• However, citizens continue see room for improvement.

• Minority residents generally have lower levels of satisfaction about public schools.

• Trends on multi-year questions are generally consistent and fall within the sampling error of the survey.

44

2007 Survey

• CEEP will explore continuation of the Public Opinion Survey on Education in Indiana in 2007.

• If continued, questions will continue to be reviewed and refined.

45

CEEP Contact Information:

Jonathan Plucker, Director

Terry Spradlin, Assoc. Director of

Education Policy

509 East Third StreetBloomington, Indiana 47401-3654

812-855-44381-800-511-6575Fax: 812-856-5890jplucker@indiana.eduhttp://ceep.indiana.edu

IU School of Education