Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools: Voters School The Next Mayor

1. HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES Strengthening Boston’s Public Schools:Voters School TheNext Mayor Survey among Boston voters and public school parents conducted 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.

3. 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.

4. 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 Law enforcement Business corporations Religious institutions

5. 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 37% 26% 37% 15% 16% 15% All voters Lack of funding Too much standard-izedtesting and teaching to the test Class sizes too large Expectations for students set too low Not enough school choice for parents Poor teacher quality

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. Public school parents: 62% agree (47% strongly) Public school parents: 31% agree (23% strongly) 67% Agree much more 45% 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 more19% 29%

7. 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 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% WhitesAfrican AmericansHispanics Non-college graduatesCollege graduates Union households DemocratsNon-Democrats Education voters All public school parents Low-income parents High-income parents Agree much more 45% Much more19%

8. Voters’ Education Agenda For Next Mayor Strongly favor proposal Somewhat favor proposal 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’hoodhubs: open later, ed. programs, health svcs Reduce class size, esp. in early grades Major investment in school construction/ renovation/maintenancewith state funding Tougher discipline standards/enforcement 93% 93% 90% 90% 89% 87% 81% 79%

9. Two Ideas Not On Voters’ Agenda: Cut Employee Benefits, Expand Charters Somewhat oppose proposal Favor proposal Strongly oppose proposal Not sure Reduce pension and health benefits for teachers and other school employees = 76% oppose All voters Public school parents = 71% oppose Reduce spending on regular public schools, and use the funds to open more charter schools = 74% oppose All voters Public school parents = 66% oppose

10. Support For Extended School Day – IFEmployees Compensated Support For Proposal To Increase Length Of School Day In Boston Public Schools By One Hour 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? 71% Among voters who favor extended day, 76% say employees should be compensated (54% of all voters). Salaries should be increased 23% Stronglyfavor 42% Salaries should not beincreased Strong 10% Favor Oppose

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 Public school parents: 67% agree (50% strongly) Public school parents: 30% agree (20% strongly) 65% Agree much more 41% We should improve teaching by removing poorly performing teachers from the classroom and hiring new teachers to replace them Much more18% 31%

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 Public school parents: 72% agree (43% strongly) Public school parents: 23% agree (15% strongly) 73% Agree much more 45% I will stand up to the teachers union because they are an obstacle to improving schools Much more16% 23%

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? Less confidence the candidate would work to improve schools More confidence the candidate would work to improve schools All voters Public school parents