Senate bill 1 poll
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Transcript of Senate bill 1 poll
Stand For Children
Indiana Voter Survey
Prepared By:
DHM Research
Prepared For:
Stand for Children
2
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
INTRODUCTION & METHODOLOGY
Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall, Inc. (DHM Research) conducted a telephone survey of voters in the state of
Indiana on behalf of Stand for Children to assess voter support for Indiana Senate Bill 1, as well as other
education reform initiatives in the state.
Research Methodology: Between March 10 and March 14, 2011, DHM Research conducted a telephone
survey among 600 voters in Indiana. This is a sufficient sample size to assess voter opinions generally
and to review findings by multiple subgroups including age, gender, political party, and area of state.
The interviews averaged 18 minutes to administer.
In gathering responses, DHM employed quality control measures, including questionnaire pre-testing,
callbacks, and validations. In addition, quotas were established for age, gender, and area of state based
on the total population of voters in Indiana to ensure a representative sample.
Statement of Limitations: Any sampling of opinions or attitudes is subject to a margin of error, which
represents the difference between a sample of a given population and the total population (here, voters
in Indiana). For a sample size of 600, if respondents answered a particular question in the proportion of
90% one way and 10% the other, the margin of error would be +/-2.4%, at the 95% confidence level. If
they answered 50% each way, the margin of error would be +/- 4.0%.1
These plus-minus error margins represent differences between the sample and total population at a
confidence interval, or probability, calculated to be 95%. This means that there is a 95% probability that
the sample taken for this study would fall within the stated margins of error if compared with the results
achieved from surveying the entire population.
DHM Research: Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall, Inc. has been providing opinion research and consultation
throughout the United States for over three decades. The firm is non-partisan and independent and
specializes in research projects to support public policy making. www.dhmresearch.com SUMMARY & OBSERVATIONS
Voters are highly supportive of Senate Bill 1, and support increases after hearing reasons to support
and oppose components of the bill.
• Sixty-seven percent (67%) support changing teacher compensation and placement criteria so that
only one-third is based on teacher seniority and the remaining is based on student academic
growth and their level.
• Overall support increased nine points to 76% at the end of the survey after being read reasons to
support and oppose components of the bill. Support also increased by each subgroup between the
first and final test, including teacher households (from 47% to 58%). This signifies that support is
high, and that communications related to the bill resonate with voters.
1 The reason for the difference lies in the fact that when response categories are relatively even in size, each is numerically
smaller, and thus slightly less able, on a statistical basis, to approximate the larger population.
3
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
Voters are highly supportive of specific components of Senate Bill 1.
• Changes to evaluation requirements and criteria: Eight in 10 support changing the scale of teacher
evaluations from “effective or ineffective” to “very effective, effective, needs improvement, and
ineffective.” Similar numbers also support requiring annual evaluations for teachers, and changing
teacher evaluations to include student academic growth as a factor, not just seniority.
• Changes to acquiring permanent status: Eight in 10 (85%) support changing the rules of rewarding
permanent status so that it is based in part on teacher effectiveness instead of just time in the
classroom. Three-quarters support ensuring that only teachers who are effective at improving
student academic growth are able to receive and keep their permanent status.
• Flexibility in schools in hiring and dismissal practices: Nine in 10 support providing teachers and
principals more flexibility to improve student achievement. Just under nine in 10 support schools
not being forced to keep low-performing teachers and principals, giving schools the ability to hire
teachers base on demonstrated teacher effectiveness instead of seniority or permanent status, and
making sure that if budget cuts happen, teacher layoffs are based on teacher performance,
including their ability to increase student academic growth, instead of just seniority.
• Changes to teacher compensation criteria: Just fewer than nine in 10 support providing higher pay
to educators who work in low-performing or high poverty schools if they are able to increase
student academic performance. Eight in 10 support providing higher pay to educators who teach in
high priority subject areas like math and science that currently don’t have enough effective
teachers, and similar numbers support changing teacher compensation decisions so that
experience counts for one-third of performance criteria, and other criteria include student
academic growth and teacher leadership.
• Eight in 10 agree that basing teacher layoffs on effectiveness means that the best teachers will
stay in the classroom, regardless of seniority or salary, with 55% who strongly agree.
• Eight in 10 agree that it doesn’t make sense to award permanent job status to teachers unless
they have a proven track record of effectively increasing student academic growth, and that
teacher permanent status rules should be changed so that it is only granted after three years of
teaching if the teacher has a proven track record of effectiveness in the classroom and increasing
student academic growth.
KEY FINDINGS
Overall Support for Senate Bill 1
Voters were asked at the beginning (Q5) and end (Q39) of the survey if they would support or oppose
changing teacher compensation and placement criteria so that only one-third is based on teacher seniority
and the remaining is based on a teacher’s ability to increase student academic growth and their level of
leadership in the district.
In the first test, before hearing reasons to support and oppose this change, 67% of voters either “strongly”
(42%) or “somewhat” (26%) supported this. Overall support increased nine points to 76% at the end of the
survey (strong: 48%; somewhat: 28%). Support also increased within all demographic groups.
4
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
Changing Teacher Compensation and Placement Criteria to Include Seniority, Increasing Academic Growth, and
Leadership: First Test and Re-Test
Source: DHM Research; March 2011
Support in educator households increased from 47% in the first test to 58% in the re-test. In addition, while
support is higher with infrequent voters compared to frequent voters in the initial test (72% vs. 62%),
support increased among both groups at the end of the survey (82% vs. 69%).
Support of Senate Bill 1 Components
Voters were told that the Indiana state legislature will be considering Senate Bill 1 in the 2011 legislative
session, and that this bill focuses on reforms to how teachers are evaluated, compensated, and their
placement (Q19).
Voters were then read a list of components of Senate Bill 1 and were asked their level of support for each
component (Q20-Q26). Strong majorities – between 71% and 88% – of voters supported each component,
however there are differences in the level of “strong” support.
42%
26%
11% 15%7%
48%
28%
8% 11%5%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Strongly support Somewhat
support
Somewhat
oppose
Strongly oppose Don't know
First Test Re-test
5
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
Support of Senate Bill 1 Components
Source: DHM Research; March 2011
Three proposals received a majority “strong” support. At the top, 88% of voters support providing higher
pay to educators who work in low-performing or high poverty schools if they are able to increase student
academic performance, with 52% of voters who said they “strongly” support this. Five in 10 or more in each
demographic group “strongly” support this.
Next, 83% support changing teacher evaluations to include student academic growth as a factor, not just
seniority, with 52% of voters in “strong” support. “Strong” support is highest among voters ages 18 to 34
(54%) and 35 to 54 (55%), men (56%), Republicans (58%), Independents (55%), and non-teacher households
(57%).
Finally, 88% support individual schools having more flexibility in hiring and dismissal practices, with 50%
supporting this “strongly.”
37%
38%
42%
43%
50%
52%
52%
34%
37%
40%
37%
38%
31%
35%
13%
11%
9%
11%
7%
8%
6%
13%
11%
6%
7%
3%
7%
5%
3%
4%
4%
3%
3%
3%
2%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Base teacher placement and dismissal on their ability to
increase student academic performance
Money previously allocated to teacher seniority and
degrees earned would be redirected to reward teachers
for students' success in the classroom, teacher leadership
assignments, and incentives to teach in high priority
subject areas
Change teacher compensation decisions so that
experience counts for 1/3 of performance criteria, and
other criteria include student academic growth and
teacher leadership
Provide higher pay to educators who work in high priority
subject areas like math and science that currently don't
have enough effective teachers
Individual schools would have more flexibility in hiring
and dismissal
Change teacher evaluations to include student academic
growth as a factor, not just seniority
Provide higher pay to educators who work in low
performing or high poverty schools if they are able to
increase student academic performance
Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose Don't know
6
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
More than three-quarters of frequent voters supported each of these three proposals, and close to nine in
10 infrequent voters said they support them.
The remaining components received “strong” support from approximately four in 10 voters. Findings are
also similar by voter propensity groups.
Just under eight in 10 (79%) support providing higher pay to educators who teach in high priority subject
areas like math and science that currently don’t have enough effective teachers, with 43% who are in
“strong” support.
Support is also strong for changing teacher compensation decisions so that experience counts for one-third
of performance criteria, and other criteria include student academic growth and teacher leadership (82%
support, 42% “strongly” so). Eight in 10 in each demographic group support this proposal with the exception
of educator households (67%).
Three-quarters (74%) support money previously allocated toward teacher seniority and degrees earned
being redirected to reward teachers for their students’ success in the classroom, teacher leadership
assignments, and incentives to teach in high priority areas, with support divided between “strong” (38%)
and “somewhat” (37%).
Finally, 71% either “strongly” (37%) or “somewhat” (34%) support basing teacher placement and dismissal
on their ability to increase student academic performance. This yielded slightly more differences in opinion
between demographic subgroups, with support higher among voters 18 to 34 and 35 to 54 in age than their
counterparts (83% and 73% vs. 61%), higher among men than women (76% vs. 66%), and higher among
Republicans and Independents than Democrats (78% and 72% vs. 62%).
It should also be noted that 50% of educator households said they support this.
7
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
Teacher Hiring and Dismissal
Voters were also asked which of the following statements comes closer to their point of view (Q38):
Basing Teacher Layoffs on Seniority or Effectiveness
Source: DHM Research; March 2011
More than eight in 10 (83%) said that when faced with teacher layoffs, schools should make their decisions
about which teachers to keep based on their effectiveness in the classroom and ability to increase student
growth (Q42). Approximately eight in 10 or more in each demographic group said this statement comes
closest to their point of view, with the exception of educator households (68%).
Indiana voters are in agreement with arguments regarding changing hiring and dismissal practices identified
in Senate Bill 1, with arguments against resonating significantly less (Q27-Q32).
Reasons to Support Hiring and Dismissal Components of Senate Bill 1
Source: DHM Research; March 2011
5%
12%
83%
Don’t know
When faced with teacher layoffs, schools should
make their decisions about which teachers to let
go based on their seniority in the district
When faced with teacher layoffs, schools should
make their decisions about which teachers to
keep based on their effectiveness in the
classroom and ability to increase student growth
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
29%
55%
76%
23%
27%
16%
18%
9%
28%
7%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Basing teacher lay-offs on seniority alone means
that teachers who are more effective may be let
go because they haven't been teaching as long as
other, less effective teachers
Basing teacher lay-offs on effectiveness means
that the best teachers will stay in the classroom,
regardless of their seniority or salary
Principals should be able to hire the teachers that
wil best meet the needs of their school's students,
and they should never be forced to hire a teacher
they don’t think is a good fit for their school
Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don't know
8
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
Almost all voters (92%) agree that principals should be able to hire the teachers that will best meet the
needs of their school’s students, and they should never be forced to hire a teacher they don’t think is a
good fit for their school, with a full three-quarters (76%) who “strongly” agree with this.
It is worth noting that 91% of educator households agree with this, and 76% “strongly” agree.
Next, eight in 10 (82%) agree that basing teacher layoffs on effectiveness means that the best teachers will
stay in the classroom, regardless of seniority or salary. Slightly more than one-half (55%) “strongly” support
this, and support is high among all demographic groups, including 71% of educator households.
A slight majority (52%) agree that basing layoffs on seniority alone means that teachers who are more
effective may be let go because they haven’t been teacher as long as other, less effective teachers, with
voters split between “strong” (29%) and “somewhat” (23%) agreement. Findings are similar by demographic
group.
Teacher Permanent Status
Voters were told that Indiana public school teachers are awarded permanent status, which provides them
with a high level of job security after three years of teaching, and that this status is awarded regardless of
how effective they are at increasing student academic growth (Q33).
When asked if they would support or oppose changing the rules of rewarding permanent status so that it is
based in part on teacher effectiveness instead of just time in the classroom, 85% of Hoosiers gave their
support, with 61% who said they “strongly” support this.
Rewarding Permanent Status In Part on Effectiveness
Source: DHM Research; March 2011
It should also be noted that 72% of educator households are in support of changing the rules of rewarding
permanent status in part on effectiveness.
Voters were read a list of reasons to support changing teacher permanent status criteria to include
teacher effectiveness and leadership and asked their level of agreement with each (Q34-Q37).
61%
24%
6% 6% 3%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Strongly
support
Somewhat
support
Somewhat
oppose
Strongly
oppose
Don't know
9
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
Permenant Status Should be Based on the Length of Time Spent in the Classroom
Source: DHM Research; March 2011
Only 30% of voters agreed that the length of time a teacher spends in the classroom is critical to their
development and it makes sense to base awarding teaching permanent status solely on the length of time
they have been teaching, with 20% who agree only “somewhat.” Just over one-third (37%) of educator
households agree with this.
Voters were much more likely to agree with reasons to include performance and effectiveness in teacher
permanent status criteria.
Reasons to Support Changing Teacher Permanent Status Criteria
Source: DHM Research; March 2011
Agreement is also much higher for reasons to base teacher permanent status in part on effectiveness.
Eighty-three percent (83%) agree that it is much more difficult to dismiss a teacher with permanent status
39%
43%
50%
25%
38%
32%
12%
8%
8%
20%
8%
6%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Permanent status based solely on time served in the
classroom means that we have teachers in the
system who are not effective but who we cannot
replace or dismiss
Teacher permanent status rules should be changed
so that it is only granted after 3 years of teaching if
the teacher has a proven track record of
effectiveness in the classroom and increasing
student academic growth
It is much more difficult to dismiss a teacher with
permanent status than other teachers. Because of
this, it doesn't make sense to award this job status
to teachers unless they have a proven track record
of effectively increasing student academic growth
Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don't know
Strongly
agree
10%
Somewhat
agree
20%
Somewhat
disagree
30%
Strongly
disagree
37%
Don't
know
3%
10
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
than other teachers and that because of this, it doesn’t make sense to award this job status to teachers
unless they have a proven track record of effectively increasing student academic growth. Five in 10 (50%)
agree “strongly.” Voters ages 18 to 34 (90%) and 35 to 54 (86%) have higher agreement levels than voters 55
and older (75%), as do Republicans (87%) and Independents (85%) compared to Democrats (77%).
It should be noted that 74% of educator households agree with this.
Eight in 10 (80%) of voters also agree that teacher permanent status rules should be changed so that it is
only granted after three years of teaching if the teacher has a proven track record of effectiveness in the
classroom and increasing student academic growth. Forty-three percent (43%) “strongly” agree with this.
Findings are similar between subgroups with the exception of age, as 18 to 34 (91%) have higher agreement
levels with this than voters 35 to 54 (81%) and 55 and older (75%).
Sixty-four percent (64%) also agree that permanent status based solely on time served in the classroom
means that we have teachers in the system who are not effective but who we cannot replace or dismiss,
with 39% who agree “strongly.” Democrats (56%) and voters ages 55 and older (59%) are the only two
groups whose agreement drops below 60%.
11
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
Appendix A
Indiana Voter Statewide Survey – Senate Bill 1
March 2011; N=600; all registered voters
15 minutes +/-4.0 margin of error
DHM Research
Hi, my name is _____________ calling on behalf of DHM Research, a public opinion research firm. I’m
calling about topics related to public education in the state of Indiana. May I please speak to (Name on
list; if unavailable schedule callback)
General Mood
1. All in all, are things in the state of Indiana headed in the right direction or are things pretty much
off on the wrong track?
Response Category N=600
Right direction 39%
Wrong track 49%
Don’t know 13%
2. What about public K-12 education in the state. Are things headed in the right direction or are
things pretty much off on the wrong track?
Response Category N=600
Right direction 32%
Wrong track 56%
Don’t know 12%
3. In general, is your impression of public school teachers in the state very favorable, somewhat
favorable, not too favorable, or not at all favorable?
Response Category N=600
Very favorable 36%
Somewhat favorable 50%
Not too favorable 8%
Not at all favorable 2%
Don’t know 4%
12
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
Teacher Evaluations – Baseline Attitudes
4. What do you consider to be the one most important factor to student success in Indiana’s
public schools? (Open; accept 1 response)
Response Category N=600
Parental involvement/dedication towards their child’s education 24%
Having more quality/caring/dedicated/educated teachers 20%
Having better class size/student to teacher ratio 7%
Focusing on individual students needs/more personalized education 5%
Adequate funding for educational resources 5%
Having a good foundation/concentration on fundamentals/good curriculum 4%
More consequences/higher discipline on students 3%
Having a broad spectrum of subjects taught/not teaching to mandated tests 2%
Changing educational methods/standards 2%
Work ethic/more effort/students need to study more 2%
Less administration and government focus/more focus on teachers and
what they are supposed to be doing 2%
Cooperation between teachers and parents 2%
Teachers need resources to teach properly/updated resources 2%
All other responses 1% or less
Nothing/none 2%
Don’t know 5%
5. Would you support or oppose changing teacher compensation and placement criteria so
that only one-third is based on teacher seniority and the remaining is based on teachers’
ability to increase student academic growth and their level of leadership in the district?
(Wait and ask) Is that strongly (support/oppose) or somewhat (support/oppose)?
Response Category N=600
Strongly support 42%
Somewhat support 26%
Somewhat oppose 11%
Strongly oppose 15%
Don’t know 7%
13
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
6. How often do you think the performance of Indiana public school teachers should be
evaluated in a 10-year period? (Record number)
Response Category N=600
1 - 3 20%
4 - 9 24%
10 - 11 48%
12 or more 4%
Don’t know 5%
7. It is up to the individual school districts in the state to determine how often teachers are
evaluated. In general, are you not at all concerned, not too concerned, somewhat
concerned, or very concerned that Indiana does not have set requirements for teacher
evaluations?
Response Category N=600
Not at all concerned 6%
Not too concerned 10%
Somewhat concerned 41%
Very concerned 42%
Don’t know 2%
8. In some public school districts in the state, teachers are evaluated every three to five years,
and in other districts, teachers who have received permanent status are never evaluated.
Knowing this, are you not at all concerned, not too concerned, somewhat concerned, or
very concerned that Indiana does not have set requirements for teacher evaluations?
Response Category N=600
Not at all concerned 4%
Not too concerned 4%
Somewhat concerned 32%
Very concerned 59%
Don’t know 2%
9. In some public schools in Indiana, teachers are evaluated once every three years. Do you
think this too often, not often enough, or just about right?
Response Category N=600
Too often 2%
Not often enough 52%
Just about right 45%
Don’t know 1%
14
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
I am going to read you a list of proposals to improve student success and teacher quality in Indiana’s
public schools. Please tell me if you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly
oppose each (Randomize Q10-Q18)
Response Category (N=600) Strongly
Support
Smwt
Support
Smwt
Oppose
Strongly
Oppose
Don’t
know
10. Make sure that if budget cuts happen, teacher layoffs are
based on teacher performance, including their ability to
increase student academic growth, instead of just seniority. 57% 25% 8% 8% 3%
11. Include student performance data as a factor in teacher
evaluations. 38% 36% 11% 12% 3%
12. Ensure that only teachers who are effective at improving
student academic growth are able to receive and keep their
permanent status. 47% 29% 12% 9% 4%
13. Ensure schools are not forced to keep low-performing
teachers and principals. 68% 21% 5% 4% 2%
14. Require annual evaluations for teachers. 58% 25% 10% 6% 1%
15. Change the scale of teacher evaluations from “effective
or ineffective” to “very effective, effective, needs
improvement, and ineffective.”
55% 34% 4% 2% 5%
16. Reduce class sizes. 61% 24% 5% 4% 7%
17. Provide teachers and principals more flexibility to
improve student achievement in their schools. 74% 22% 2% 1% 2%
18. Give schools the ability to hire teachers based on
demonstrated teacher effectiveness as opposed to teacher
seniority or permanent status.
64% 24% 6% 4% 4%
Support for Senate Bill 1
19. The Indiana state legislature will be considering passing Senate Bill 1 in the 2011 legislative
session. This bill focuses on reforms to how teachers are evaluated, compensated, and their
placement. Before I just mentioned it, had you heard of Senate Bill 1?
Response Category N=600
Yes 40%
No 58%
Don’t know 2%
15
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
I am going to read you a list of components of Senate Bill 1. Please tell me if you strongly support,
somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose each of the following components.
(Randomize Q20-Q26)
Response Category (N=600) Strongly
Support
Smwt
Support
Smwt
Oppose
Strongly
Oppose
Don’t
know
20. Change teacher evaluations to include student academic
growth as a factor, not just seniority. 52% 31% 8% 7% 3%
21. Change teacher compensation decisions so that experience
counts for one-third of performance criteria, and other criteria
include student academic growth and teacher leadership.
42% 40% 9% 6% 4%
22. Provide higher pay to educators who teach in high priority
subject areas like math and science that currently don’t have
enough effective teachers.
43% 37% 11% 7% 3%
23. Provide higher pay to educators who work in low-
performing or high poverty schools if they are able to increase
student academic performance.
52% 35% 6% 5% 2%
24. Base teacher placement and dismissal on their ability to
increase student academic performance. 37% 34% 13% 13% 3%
25. Money previously allocated toward teacher seniority and
degrees earned would be redirected to reward teaches for their
students’ success in the classroom, teacher leadership
assignments, and incentives to teach in high priority subject
areas.
38% 37% 11% 11% 4%
26. Individual schools would have more flexibility in hiring and
dismissal. 50% 38% 7% 3% 3%
Teacher Hiring & Dismissal
I’d like to read you some statements about teacher seniority and protecting teachers. For each, please
tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree. (Randomize
Q27-Q32)
Response Category (n=600) Strongly
Agree
Smwt
Agree
Smwt
Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
Don’t
know
27. Teachers with seniority need to be protected otherwise
they will be forced out of jobs since less experienced teachers
are paid less. 22% 28% 25% 21% 5%
28. Teachers with more than three years of seniority in Indiana
public schools should have priority over newly hired teachers
and outside applicants. They’ve earned that.
24% 34% 21% 18% 4%
29. Compared to other problems like school funding and
classroom sizes, how teachers are hired and transferred is just
not as important.
8% 23% 33% 30% 6%
30. Principals should be able to hire the teachers that will best
meet the needs of their school’s students, and they should
never be forced to hire a teacher they don’t think is a good fit
for their school.
76% 16% 4% 2% 1%
31.Basing teacher lay-offs on seniority alone means that
teachers who are more effective may be let go because they
haven’t been teaching as long as other, less effective teachers.
29% 23% 18% 28% 4%
16
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
Response Category (n=600) Strongly
Agree
Smwt
Agree
Smwt
Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
Don’t
know
32.Basing teacher lay-offs on effectiveness means that the best
teachers will stay in the classroom, regardless of their seniority
or salary.
55% 27% 9% 7% 2%
Teacher Permanent Status
Now I would like to ask you some questions about teacher permanent status. As I said earlier, Indiana K-
12 public school teachers are awarded permanent status, which provides them with a high level of job
security, after three years of teaching.
33. Teacher permanent status in Indiana is currently awarded regardless of how effective teachers
are at increasing student academic growth. Would you support or oppose changing the rules
of rewarding permanent status so that it is based in part on teacher effectiveness instead of
just time in the classroom? (Wait and ask) Is that somewhat (support/oppose) or strongly
(support/oppose)?
Response Category N=600
Strongly support 61%
Somewhat support 24%
Somewhat oppose 6%
Strongly oppose 6%
Don’t know 3%
I am going to read you some statements about permanent status. Please tell me if you strongly agree,
somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with each. (Randomize Q34-Q37)
Response Category (n=600) Strongly
Agree
Smwt
Agree
Smwt
Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
Don’t
know
34. The length of time a teacher spends in the classroom is
critical to their development and it makes sense to base
awarding teacher permanent status solely on the length of time
they have been teaching.
10% 20% 30% 37% 3%
35. Permanent status based solely on time served in the
classroom means that we have teachers in the system who are
not effective but who we cannot replace or dismiss.
39% 25% 12% 20% 4%
36. Teacher permanent status rules should be changed so that it
is only granted after three years of teaching if the teacher has a
proven track record of effectiveness in the classroom and
increasing student academic growth.
43% 38% 8% 8% 4%
37. It is much more difficult to dismiss a teacher with permanent
status than other teachers. Because of this, it doesn’t make sense
to award this job status to teachers unless they have a proven
track record of effectively increasing student academic growth.
50% 32% 8% 6% 3%
17
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
Support for Senate Bill 1 Concepts Validation
38. Let me read you two statements about staffing in public schools during difficult financial times.
Please tell me which one statement comes closer to your point of view. (Rotate statements;
accept one)
Response Category N=600
A. When faced with teacher layoffs, schools should make their
decisions about which teachers to let go based on their
seniority in the district.
12%
B. When faced with teacher layoffs, schools should make their
decisions about which teachers to keep based on their
effectiveness in the classroom and ability to increase student
growth.
83%
Don’t know 5%
39. Sometimes people change their mind after hearing more about an issue. Would you support or
oppose changing teacher compensation and placement criteria so that only one-third is based
on teacher seniority and the remaining is based on teachers’ ability to increase student
academic growth and their level of leadership in the district?
Response Category N=600
Strongly support 48%
Somewhat support 28%
Somewhat oppose 8%
Strongly oppose 11%
Don’t know 5%
Demographics
These last few questions are for statistical purposes only.
40. In what age category are you? (Read list)
Response Category N=600
18-34 22%
35-54 39%
55-64 25%
65+ 13%
Refused 1%
41. Gender (By observation)
Response Category N=600
Male 48%
Female 52%
18
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
42. When it comes to politics and voting, do you consider yourself to be more of a Democrat, more of a
Republican, more of an Independent, or member of another party?
Response Category N=600
Democrat 28%
Republican 33%
Independent/Other party 36%
Refused 4%
43. Vote propensity (From sample)
Response Category N=600
0 of 4 18%
1 of 4 18%
2 of 4 17%
3 of 4 23%
4 of 4 25%
44. County (From Sample; Code into area of state)
Response Category N=600
Northern Indiana 32%
Indiana Metro area 26%
Central Indiana 23%
Southern Indiana 19%
45. Do you have children or grandchildren in the Indiana Public Schools? (specify children or
grandchildren)
Response Category N=600
Yes, children 27%
Yes, grandchildren 24%
No 49%
Don’t know/Refused 0%
46. Are you or is anyone in your household a current or retired teacher?
Response Category N=600
Yes, self, current 9%
Yes, self, retired 4%
Yes, household, current 8%
Yes, household, retired 2%
No 78%
Don’t know/Refused 0%
47. Do your or anyone in your household belong to a labor union?
Response Category N=600
Yes 22%
No 77%
Refused 1%