Strengthening Bostons Public Schools Voters School The Next

Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School The Next Mayor Survey among Boston voters and public school parents conducted for 1 Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for

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

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 55% Crime 34% Jobs/unemployment 32% Housing Health care 3 17% 14% The budget 10% Taxes 10% 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

Public Schools Are Most Important Institution For Boston’s Future Which one of the following institutions do you feel is most important in providing a good future for your community? Public schools 59% Law enforcement 17% Business corporations Religious institutions 4 12% 7% Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for

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? Public school parents All voters Lack of funding 34% Too much standardized testing and teaching to the test 30% Class sizes too large 27% Expectations for students set too low 5 21% 37% 26% 37% 15% Not enough school choice for parents 15% 16% Poor teacher quality 15% Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for

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. Agree much more 45% 67% Public school parents: 62% agree (47% strongly) 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 Much more 19% 6 29% Public school parents: 31% agree (23% strongly) Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for

Pro-Charter Candidate Loses To Candidate Focused On Regular Public Schools With which of these candidates do you agree more? Focus on improving regular public schools Open more charter schools 66% 67% 75% 32% 29% 23% Non-college graduates College graduates 69% 67% 26% 30% Union households 74% 19% Democrats Non-Democrats 73% 59% 24% 36% Education voters 69% 28% All. Much public school parents more 19% Low-income parents High-income parents 62% 67% 59% 31% 27% 34% Whites African Americans Hispanics Agree much more 45% 7 Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for

Voters’ Education Agenda For Next Mayor Strongly favor proposal Somewhat favor proposal Extra resources to struggling schools 93% 77% More after-school enrichment programs 75% Less spending on bureaucracy, more on classrooms 74% Hold charter schools accountable More schools as n’hood hubs: open later, ed. programs, health svcs Reduce class size, esp. in early grades Major investment in school construction/ renovation/maintenance with state funding Tougher discipline standards/enforcement 8 93% 90% 68% 89% 69% 87% 66% 57% 51% 81% 79% Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for

Two Ideas Not On Voters’ Agenda: Cut Employee Benefits, Expand Charters Favor proposal Somewhat oppose proposal Strongly oppose proposal Reduce pension and health benefits for teachers and other school employees Not sure = 76% oppose All voters Public school parents 20% 17% 26% 58% 13% = 71% oppose 58% Reduce spending on regular public schools, and use the funds to open more charter schools = 74% oppose All voters Public school parents 21% 25% 27% 0% 9 10% 20% 49% 18% 30% 40% = 66% oppose 48% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for

Support For Extended School Day – IF Employees Compensated Support For Proposal To Increase Length Of School Day In Boston Public Schools By One Hour IF the length 76% of the school day increased by one hour, should Boston teacher/ school employee salaries be increased to compensate the additional time worked? 71% Salaries should be increased Among voters who favor extended day, 76% say employees should be compensated (54% of all voters). 20% Strongly favor 42% 23% Strong 10% Favor 10 Salaries should not be increased Oppose Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for

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% 65% Public school parents: 67% agree (50% strongly) We should improve teaching by removing poorly performing teachers from the classroom and hiring new teachers to replace them Much more 18% 11 31% Public school parents: 30% agree (20% strongly) Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for

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% 73% Public school parents: 72% agree (43% strongly) I will stand up to the teachers union because they are an obstacle to improving schools Much more 16% 12 23% Public school parents: 23% agree (15% strongly) Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for

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? More confidence the candidate would work to improve schools 70% 65% 16% All voters 13 Less confidence the candidate would work to improve schools 11% Public school parents Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School Next Mayor–August 2013 – Hart Research for