Community support for our local K- 12 Public Schools September 30, 2015

statewide survey of 1,235 NC voters April 16 – May 6, 2015 Data weighted to be representative of U.S. Census data for the state of North Carolina Statewide survey of 1,519 NC voters. January 28 – February 6, 2013 Methodology

3 Reputation

4 Things have gotten worse Base: Total Respondents, 2013 (N=1519), 2015 (N=1235) Q1. Overall, do you think K-12 public education in North Carolina is going in the right direction or is it on the wrong track? S19. Thinking about social issues, would you say your views on social issues are [ROTATE: conservative, moderate, or liberal]? Direction K-12 public education in North Carolina is going

5 Curriculum (STEM, advanced classes, improvements, etc.) Improved teacher pay (increases, better salaries, etc.) Personal knowledge (my child/grandchild is doing well, etc.) Improved schools (building more schools, better schools, etc.) Positive teacher responses (good teachers, better teachers, etc.) Improved testing scores Improved student outcomes (students learning, grad. rates up, etc.) Curriculum (Common Core, not teaching basics, etc.) Teacher pay (underpaid teachers, pay cuts, etc.) Testing (teaching to the test, too much testing, etc.) Not enough funding (lack of funding, cuts, etc.) Teachers (losing, not enough, turnover, etc.) Students aren’t learning enough (no basics, etc.) Why Right Direction or Wrong Track? Base: Total Respondents, N=1235 Q1a. What are the main reasons you think K-12 public education in North Carolina is [RESPONSE FROM Q1]? 59%24%

6 Base: Total Respondents, 2013 (N=1519), 2015 (N=1235); If children attend public schools, 2013 (N=479), 2015 (311) Q2. Thinking about K-12 public education, what grade would you give each of the following? Bold font indicates statistically significant difference. Report Card Mean Rating Public School(s) K-12 Teachers Public Education Leaders/Admin Where child attends B+ (3.3) B (3.1) B+ (3.3) B (3.1) B (3.1) B- (2.8) In district B- (2.8) B- (2.6) B (2.9) B (2.9) B-/C+ (2.5) C+ (2.4) In state of NC as a whole C+ (2.4) C (2.2) B- (2.6) B- (2.7) C+ (2.3) C (2.1) Voter ratings of schools, teachers and leaders

7 Predictors of parents’ grades. Prepared for Productive Life: Students are prepared for higher education. Educational Quality: Public schools provide a complete education to students. Excellence & Interaction: Public schools provide excellent teachers.

8 Importance of North Carolina’s K-12 public education system. Base: Voters (n=1235), Q4. How important is the state K-12 public education system overall? (7pt. scale: 1= Not at all important, 7= Extremely important; DK) Rated 7 ‘Extremely Important’ Rated 6 Importance of the state K-12 public education system overall Top 2 Box (rated 6 / 7)

9 Voters see the benefit of K-12 public education. Base: Voters (n=1235), Q6. How beneficial would you say the K-12 public education system is to the state of North Carolina? (4pt. scale: 1= Not at all beneficial, 4 = Extremely beneficial; DK) Benefit of the K-12 public education system to the state of NC Top 2 Box (extremely/somewhat beneficial) Extremely Beneficial Somewhat beneficial

10 Attributions

11 Conservatives C Moderates M Liberals L 50%62% C77% CM 35%50% C66% CM 37%44%52% C 39%41%42% 35%39%40% 51% ML32%28% 25%38% C42% C 26%34% C46% CM 32%35%36% 24%34% C46% CM 32%33%39% 27%31%30% 32% L29% L19% 17%25% C35% CM 31% L24%20% 22%25%22% 19%22%25% 20%19%23% 17%20%22% 12%16%24% CM 12%14% 2%1% 8%7%5% 6% L5%2% Critical areas for improvement in the K-12 public education system. Base: Total Respondents (N=1235) Q8. What are the most critical areas for improvement in the K-12 public education system? Select all that apply. Bold font indicates statistically significant difference (+8) (-4) (-11) (=) (-4) (-13) (-9) (-6) (-1) (-8) (-2) 2015

12 Voters see state leaders as largely responsible for problems. Base: Total Respondents (bases vary); Q9. Who should play the lead role in addressing this critical area for improvement in the K-12 public education system? Select one response. Critical AreasParentsTeachersPrincipals Super- intendents Local School Board NC State Board of Education NC Dept of Public Instruction Governor of NC NC State Legislature County Commissioners Someone Else/Other Don’t Know 62% Underpaid teachers 1%3%1%2%3%15%6%24%38%3%1%4% 50% Inadequate funding 1%2%0%1%2%11%4%23%49%4%1%3% 44% Class sizes that are too large 2%3% 8%18%24%8%7%18%4%1%3% 40% Curriculum quality 5%13%2%6%10%32%18%5%4%1%0%3% 38% Ensuring students are college ready 6%31%3%6%7%26%12%4%2%1% 2% 36% Student discipline 43%10%16%3%7%8%3%1%4%1%2%3% 35% Not enough support staff in classrooms 2%3%4%11%16%23%7%6%23%3%0%3% 35% Not enough investment in teachers' professional growth and development 1%2%4%10%7%28%12%9%21%4%0%2% 34% Ensuring students are career ready 8%24%4%6%10%26%12%2%4%0%2% 34% Lack of learning materials 0%3%2%6%10%26%10%9%26%4%1%3% 34% Budget process 3%2% 3%11%18%6%15%25%8%1%6% 30% Not enough attention to the average child 4%23%8%6%12%19%11%5%7%1% 3% 27% Poor performing teachers 1%2%16%9%16%30%9%4%5%3%0%4% 25% Not enough school support staff 4%2% 8%12%24%8% 24%3%0%3% 25% Not enough school accountability for student performance 11% 12%10%8%24%9%3%4%2%1%5% 23% Communication with teachers and parents 14%32%21%3%8%10%3%2%3%2%0% 22% Low graduation rates 10% 8% 9%28%7%6%9%2%1%2% 20% Not enough attention to gifted and talented children 3%14%10%9%12%23%15%4%5%2%1%2% 20% Not enough attention to children with special needs 2%6% 4%13%32%10%7%16%3%-2% 17% Lack of access to high-quality pre-K and early childhood education 5% 0%5%7%30%11%6%26%3%1%2% 13% Safety 3%0%9%17%9%19%4%15%10%5%3%

13 Voters prioritize investing in teachers Importance to North Carolina’s K-12 public schools Top 2 Box - Rated 6 /7 Voters Base: Voters (n=1235), Q10. [Voters] In North Carolina’s K-12 public schools, how important are each of the following.

14 Summary

15 Voters highly value public education and are extremely concerned that it is on the wrong track due to the lack of state support for local public schools.

16 There is less anger about poor performing schools and teachers, more anger about a lack of support for teachers and schools.

17 Top four problems are all largely out of the control of local schools: underpaid teachers, inadequate funding, large class sizes and curriculum quality (over-testing).

18 Lack of funding is a top concern across groups: “State policies and funding are putting greater burdens on our local schools and giving them fewer resources to educate our students” 80% of voters agree with this statement: 74%C80%M87%L

19 The power of local school communities

20 Community leaders know strong and successful local schools are the best way to create successful individuals, a better community and a better economy.

21 When each child succeeds, we all succeed with a stronger local economy, citizens and quality of life.

22 Education is not a system, it’s a community of people working together to help each child grow and develop. 22

23 Our parents and voters value our public schools and want greater support for our students and teachers.

24 As a community leader you can help make sure each child is prepared for college and career success.

25 Being a champion for our local public school sends a clear message that you care about our community, its children and economic future.

26 Your advocacy makes you a valued partner with parents, voters, employees and customers.

27 It’s time to talk about the success being made by our children, parents, teachers and schools —everyday miracles happen everyday in our schools, moving children forward from where they are to where they can be.

28 With your leadership, our local schools will get the support necessary to make sure each child is prepared for college, career and success.

29 Thank you

30 Number of Children by Age Base: Have children, n=916 Under 55 to 1213 to 1819 to 2526 or older None83%75%76% 56% 114%15%18%17%14% 23%9%6% 19% 3-1% 6% 4-<1% 3% 5---<1%1% 6+-<1%--1% Types of Schools Children Have Ever Attended Base: Have children under 19, n=448 NC Public Schools Private Schools Public Schools Home Schooled Charter Schools Currently Attend NC Public Schools Base: Have children ALL over 18, n=559 Base: Have children 5 years and older, n=835 Voted in Last Presidential Election Yes100% Voted in 2014 Elections for US and State Congress Yes85% No12% Not sure/can’t recall3% Views on Economic Issues Conservative34% Moderate49% Liberal16% Views on Social Issues Conservative29% Moderate45% Liberal26%

31 Voter Demographics 31 Gender Female50% Male50% Age % % % Current Employment Status Employed full-time52% Self-employed7% Employed part-time6% Student3% Full-time homemaker7% Not employed but looking for work3% Not employed and not looking for work 2% Retired21% Marital Status Married66% Living with partner4% Single, never married15% Divorced10% Separated2% Widowed3% Prefer not to answer1% Highest Level of Educ. Completed Less than high school<1% High school graduate7% Some college or trade school22% College graduate45% Post graduate26% Race Asian/Asian-American 3% Black/African-American 22% White/Caucasian 74% Some other race 1% Hispanic or Latino Yes4% No96% Total Annual HH Income Before Taxes Less than or equal to $50K25% At least $50K but less than $75K17% At least $75K but less than $100K18% At least $100K but less than $150K20% At least $150K but less than $200K6% $200K or more5% Don’t know / Prefer not to say9% Length NC Resident Less than 1 year2% 1 to 5 years14% 6 to 10 years15% 11 years or more42% All of my life28% Type of Area Live In Urban18% Suburban55% Rural27% Children Yes74% No26%