2004 Michigan Education Poll
New Acronyms, Same Attitudes?

Public Would Pay More to Maintain Public Education, Poll Says

Lansing—A poll released today by Public Sector Consultants Inc. of Lansing shows that Michigan residents think their local schools are doing a good job and might be willing to pay more in property taxes to maintain some programs. The poll also shows support for early childhood education. The survey of 680 adults was conducted in January-February of 2004 and has a margin of error of ±3.8 percent. It includes questions about how the public perceives local schools, as well as attitudes about early childhood education, education funding, and school accountability. The poll also finds that:

A majority of Michiganders give their schools an A/B grade on quality (12 percent A and 42 percent B)

• Parents and teachers are viewed as having the biggest impact on student learning. When a school fails to meet the requirements set forth by No Child Left Behind, parents, the superintendent and school board, and teachers are viewed as sharing the blame.
• 82 percent of respondents believe that public spending on early childhood education is a wise investment; however, 75 percent also believe that priority for spending should go toward K–12 schools before expanding or creating new early childhood programs.
• Nearly half of those polled—46 percent—support creating mandatory, universal pre-kindergarten education for Michigan four-year-olds.
• More than three-fourths of respondents—78 percent—believe their tax dollars are a good bargain for the quality of education that their schools deliver.
• Given the choice of keeping taxes as low as possible or paying higher property taxes to maintain educational programs and services, 63 percent choose to maintain programs.

“Taken together, these results demonstrate that the public has a positive view of public education that is largely unchanged over the past decade and is not averse to paying more to maintain the programs and services that they value,” said Melissa Riba, Senior Research Consultant at Public Sector Consultants. “The public also understands that early childhood education is an important building block for later educational success, but their support is tempered by budgetary concerns.”

Among the priorities identified by respondents as the most convincing reasons for approving a property tax increase: replacing unsafe buildings; improving technology; funding special education, vocational, and technical programs; and relieving cramped classroom conditions.

Public Sector Consultants Inc. (PSC) is a private Michigan corporation providing policy research in the areas of health, education, economics, the environment, and technology; survey research; program evaluation; and strategic planning. PSC has conducted the Michigan Education Poll since 1991. For an executive summary and full results of the 2004 survey, go to www.pscinc.com.

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