California Voter Attitudes on School Safety

7/29/2019 California Voter Attitudes on School Safety

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Key Findings From a Statewide Voter SurveyConducted January 16-21, 2013

320-551

California Voter Attitudes

on School Safety


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1

Research Methodology

1200 telephone interviews with registered voters inCalifornia

Interviews conducted between January 16 21, 2013

Interviews on both landlines and cell phones

Interviews conducted in both English and Spanish

Margin of sampling error of +/- 2.8 percent

Some percentages may not sum to 100% due to

rounding


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2

How closely have you followed the news about the school shooting inNewtown, Connecticut that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School last

month: would you say you have followed the news about this issue veryclosely, somewhat closely, not too closely or not at all?

48%

41%

10%

2%

0% 15% 30% 45% 60% 75%

Very closely

Somewhat closely

Not too closely

Not at all/never heard of it

TotalClosely

88%

Total Not Too/Not At All Closely

12%

Californians have paid closeattention to the tragedy in Newtown.

Q3.


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3

41%

40%37%

36%

34%

27%

26%22%

22%

21%

17%

43%

39%34%

38%

33%

31%

31%31%

27%

42%

27%

14%

16%20%

22%

19%

33%

32%28%

33%

33%

39%

5%

13%

8%

8%17%

16%

14%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

The economy and unemployment

The cost of health careThe quality of education in local schools

Gangs and youth violence

A lack of funding for public education

The price of gasoline

Violence in schoolsIllegal immigration

The potential for shootings in schools

Crime

A lack of safety in schools

Ext. Ser. Very Ser. S.W. Ser. Not Ser. DK/NA

1. Split Sample

Total Ext.Very Serious

84%

79%71%

74%

67%

58%

57%53%

49%

63%

44%

But compared to other major issues, schoolsafety is a relatively modest concern.

Please tell me how serious you think each of the followingissues is in the State of California:

Most Important Issues Facing California


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41a. Please tell me how serious you think each of the following issues is in the State of California: extremely serious, very serious, somewhatserious, or not serious. Split Sample/*2012 Worded Slightly Differently.

In fact, concern about school safety hasnot changed significantly since last year.

17%

20%

27%

28%

39%

30%

14%

15% 7%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

2013

2012*

Ext. Ser. Very Ser. S.W. Ser. Not Ser. DK/NA

*A lack of safety in schools

44%

48%


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5

In your opinion, how safe are California schools? Would you say they are verysafe, somewhat safe, not too safe or not at all safe?

22%

55%

13%

4%

5%

0% 15% 30% 45% 60% 75%

Very safe

Somewhat safe

Not too safe

Not at all safe

DK/NA

TotalSafe77%

Total Not Too/Not At All Safe

18%

More than three-quarters of voters viewschools as safe, though few feel strongly.

Q2.


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6

How important is it to you that government leaderstakeaction to improve safety in Californias schools:

33%

31%

24%

10%

2%

0% 15% 30% 45% 60%

Extremely important

Very important

Somewhat important

Not too important

DK/NA

Total Extremely/

Very Important64%

Nonetheless, a majority says it isveryimportantfor government leaders to improve

safety in Californias schools.

Q4.


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Voters reserve their strongest support forplanning, training, mental health services, and

teaching conflict resolution.

Q5. *Split Sample

79%

78%

69%

67%

64%

64%

17%

18%

22%

23%

27%

27%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Strng. Sup. S.W. Supp. S.W. Opp. Strng. Opp. DK/NA

I am going to read you a list of different policy options currently underdiscussion to improve safety and prevent violence in schools. Please tell mewhether you support or oppose that particular policy.

TotalSupport

TotalOppose

96% 2%

96% 2%

91% 7%

90% 8%

91% 8%

91% 8%

Requiring every school to have a

comprehensive safety plan

Training school staff in emergency response

*Increasing mental health services incommunities

*Teaching students conflict resolutiontechniques and anger management skills

Providing mental health first aid training toteachers and school staff, so they recognize

signs of mental illness in young people

*Training teachers in conflict resolutiontechniques and classroom management skills


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8

67%

26%

8%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Putting a trained guidancecounselor in every school.

Putting an armed police officer inevery school.

Both/Neither/DK/NA

OR

Q7a.

I am going to read you several pairs of statements about different potentialapproaches to improving school safety and preventing violence in your local

school district. Please tell me which approach you believe would be moreeffective in preventing violence in schools and making schools safer.

By more than two-to-one, voters believe having trainedguidance counselors in every school would be moreeffective than having armed police officers there.


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9

66%

27%

7%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Improving mental health servicesin schools and communities.

Installing more security camerasand metal detectors in schools.

Both/Neither/DK/NA

OR

Q7b.



Voters rate improving mental health services asmore effective than improving security systems.


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We should prioritize strategies to prevent violent situations

at school by increasing mental health services and betterdetecting the early signs of mental illness, so people who

need it can get treatment or be taken off the streets

We should prioritize strategies to respond to violentsituations at school by having armed police officers ready toconfront attackers and hardened barriers that make it more

difficult to get access to school grounds

Both/Neither/DK/NA

72%

20%

7%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

OR

Q7c.



Voters see preventionof violence as moreimportant than developing a responseto it.


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For more information, contact:

Shakari Byerly

1999 Harrison St., Suite 1290Oakland, CA 94612

Phone (510) 451-9521

Fax (510) 451-0384

[email protected]

Dave Metz

[email protected]

California Voter Attitudes on School Safety

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